Penny Mac Hydrangea – 3 Gallon Pot

Spacing:  5′ for solid hedges; 8′ or more for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form:  Bushy, Dense, Rounded Mound

Flower Color:  Pink or Blue depending on soil pH

Flower Size:  1″, in Large 8″ round clusters 

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Discovered by and named after Penny McHenry, founder of the American Hydrangea Association, the ‘Penny Mac’ Hydrangea is a classic mophead with an added bonus: unlike most other hydrangeas of this type, which need older branches from the previous year to bloom, Penny Mac will bloom in colder areas even when the branches are killed to the ground. It blooms repeatedly during summer and into fall when many spring or early summer flowering shrubs have finished their flowering. The large rounded flower heads are 8 or more inches across and you decide the color. They are blue in acidic soils, lavender in a neutral soil, or pink in an alkaline soil. Add aluminum sulfate to the soil for blue flowers or pelletized agricultural lime for lavender or pink flowers. Either way, this is a wonderful plant that is easy to grow, the blooms are attractive for weeks and weeks, and it needs no special care at all.

Penny McHenry received the original plant as a gift in 1975. Over the years she propagated, planted and shared this hydrangea, which always seemed to grow especially well and bloom throughout the summer in her gardens. In 2000, she gave specimens for evaluation to noted hydrangea expert Michael A. Dirr at the University of Georgia, Department of Horticulture. He, in turn, was so impressed by its garden performance he brought this hydrangea into the marketplace and to the attention of home gardeners. It has been extremely popular ever since.