Plant Details

Plant Type: Deciduous flowering shrub; Bigleaf Hydrangea; Mophead Hydrangea

Sun Exposure: Part sun / part shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade is best, especially in Georgia heat.

Bloom Color: Pink Blooms to blue blooms depending on soil pH. More acidic soil leans blue; more alkaline soil leans pink.

Bloom Time: Late spring into summer, with repeat blooming from summer into fall when happy and deadheaded.

Mature Height: About 4–5 feet

Mature Width: About 5–6 feet

Hardiness Zone: Zones 6–9

Soil Moisture: Medium to consistently moist, well-drained soil. Don’t let it dry out hard in summer heat.

Deer Resistance: Low to moderate. Hydrangeas are not deer-proof, and deer may browse them, especially tender new growth and flower buds.

Care Level: Moderate. Needs steady water, afternoon shade in hot areas, and careful pruning.

Pollinator Friendly: Somewhat. Mophead hydrangeas are grown mostly for showy sterile flowers, so they’re not as pollinator-useful as lacecap or panicle types.

Pruning Time: Lightly prune after the first bloom, if needed. Remove dead wood in early spring. Avoid hard pruning late summer, fall, or winter because it can reduce blooms.

Notes

David Ramsey Hydrangea is a reblooming bigleaf mophead hydrangea with large rounded flower heads. It can bloom on old wood first, then rebloom on new growth. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage more bloom. Best with morning sun, afternoon shade, mulch, and consistent moisture. Bloom color can shift depending on soil pH.