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Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

Family: Hydrangeaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

‘Lemon Daddy’ hydrangea is a woody, deciduous shrub with a rounded, multi-stemmed form and yellow to chartreuse foliage. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. It is in the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae). ‘Lemon Daddy’ requires a site that receives partial shade or dappled sunlight and soil that is high in organic matter and moist but well drained. A cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla , ‘Lemon Daddy’ has white flowers that mature to either light pink or blue depending on the acidity of the soil. Blue flowers develop when the soil is more acidic and pink flowers develop when the soil is more alkaline. Flowers bloom on old and new wood so repeat blooming occurs throughout the summer. Its size makes it ideal for small spaces and patio landscapes. It is useful as a specimen or accent plant in Asian, cottage, cutting, English, or shade gardens. And it can also be used as a border, hedge, or foundation planting. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Hydrangea macrophylla .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 55 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Hydrangea serrata Hydrangea serrata 'Omacha Variegata' Syringa pubescens subsp. pubescens

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Broadly ovate 4- 5.5 inch yellow to chartreuse leaves with serrated margins
Flower color
Blue; Pink; White
Flower value
Good Dried; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Up to 12-inch across rounded clusters of 4 petaled flowers that mature to pink or blue depending on soil pH. Blooms mid to late summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Bark color
Light Brown
Bark detail
Smooth brown bark
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Small Space
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous shrub #deciduous #showy leaves #foundation planting #showy flowers #border planting #dappled shade #specimen #summer flowers #blue flowers #pink flowers #partial shade tolerant #dried arrangements #hedge #deer browsing plant #accent
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves; Stems
Poison symptoms
nausea, sweating, vomiting
Toxic principle
hydracyanosides (cyanogenic glycosides).
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison; parts: Flowers; Leaves; Stems

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.