Big Daddy Hydrangea

Big Daddy Hydrangea makes its entrance with oversized mophead blooms that can reach an astonishing 12 to 14 inches across. Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Big Daddy’ flowers blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil, giving gardeners control over the final color. This deciduous shrub matures at 5 to 6 feet tall and wide, creating a lush summer focal point with broad green foliage and rounded flower clusters. We recommend placing it where the blooms can be enjoyed up close and cut often for arrangements.rThis bigleaf hydrangea is bred for hot, humid summers, making it a wonderful choice for Southern landscapes with afternoon shade. It blooms in summer and may flower on old and new wood, so  stems from the previous season can add to the display. The broad, mounded habit works beautifully as a specimen, loose flowering hedge, or repeated planting along a shaded foundation. Fresh stems are excellent in vases, and mature blooms can be dried for wreaths or indoor displays.rBig Daddy Hydrangea CarerPlant Big Daddy Hydrangea in part shade to shade, with morning sun and afternoon protection preferred in warm climates. Rich, well-drained soil with steady moisture supports the best leaf quality and flower size. Soil pH influences bloom color, with acidic soil producing bluer flowers and alkaline soil producing pinker flowers.rWater deeply after planting, and keep the root zone evenly moist during the first growing season while roots settle in. Established plants still appreciate supplemental water during hot, dry spells, especially when flower heads are sizing up or leaves begin to flag in afternoon heat. Fertilize in spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer, and use aluminum sulfate or garden lime only when adjusting flower color gradually. A 2- to 3-inch mulch layer helps moderate shallow roots through summer heat and winter temperature swings.rPrune Big Daddy Hydrangea in summer after the main flower display, removing spent blooms and shaping only as needed. In late winter or early spring, take out weak, dead, or winter-damaged stems at the base and leave healthy older canes that may carry flower buds. In colder Zone 6 gardens, site it away from drying winter winds and leave fallen leaves or mulch over the root zone for added protection.rBig Daddy Hydrangea SpacingrSpace Big Daddy Hydrangea 5 to 6 feet apart for a full hedge or mass planting. Give individual specimens 6 to 8 feet of room so the rounded shape can develop with good air movement. For containers, choose a large pot at least 20 to 24 inches wide with drainage holes, and check moisture more often because broad leaves pull water quickly in summer.rPlant astilbe, coral bells, and Japanese forest grass around Big Daddy Hydrangea in shaded beds, since they share a preference for moist, well-drained soil and help fill the lower layer beneath the shrub. Pieris shrubs and leucothoe make excellent evergreen partners in acidic soil, adding foliage structure when the hydrangea is dormant. In large containers, let Big Daddy Hydrangea stand as the main shrub, and edge the pot with wishbone flowers or lobelia for shade-friendly seasonal color.rrrBig Daddy Hydrangea Plant FactsrrrrUSDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9rrrFlower Color(s): Pink/BluerrrBloom Period: SpringrrrFoliage Color(s): GreenrrrLight Exposure: Partial Shade to Partial SunrrrHeight: 5-6 FeetrrrSpread: 5-6 FeetrrrHabit: Rounded CompactrrrWatering: MediumrrrFeatures: Cut Flowers, RebloomerrrrScientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Big Daddy’ PP14527rrrCommon Name: Big Daddy HydrangearrrBrand: Southern Living Plants