Professional Growing Information Loved the “rave” for its bold bright colours as compared to others in the “let’s dance” series. My friend and I both planted this hydrangea in zone 6 and neither of ours came back this year. Very disappointing :(
Let's Dance® Rave® Reblooming hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
Exposure
- Part Sun to Sun
- Sun
Flower Season
- Summer
Mature Size
Height: 2' - 3'
Spread: 2' - 3'
Height: 61cm - 91cm
Spread: 61cm - 91cm
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Details
24 - 36 Inches36 - 48 Inches24 - 36 Inches61cm - 91cm91cm - 1.2m61cm - 91cmFeatures
This variety is no longer available from Proven Winners®. Alternatives include: Let's Dance ¡Arriba!®.
Love purple? Love hydrangeas? Let's Dance Rave hydrangea is the perfect pick!
We spent years evaluating Let's Dance Rave hydrangea for not just superior good looks but also outstanding performance. It's simply one of the best rebloomers we've ever introduced! That means that it blooms on old wood in early summer, then as it continues to grow, it keeps making new flower buds for more blooms in the following weeks. The big, bold blooms may be a deep saturated pink in neutral to basic/alkaline soil and an intriguing violet in acidic conditions. Glossy, dark green foliage resists disease for a picture-worthy performance, year after year.
All of the Let's Dance hydrangeas are developed in Michigan and evaluated for better resistance to winter damage as well as improved ability to rebloom, even in areas with shorter summers.
Top reasons to grow Let's Dance Rave hydrangea:
- Developed in Michigan for improved cold climate performance
- Handsome, disease-resistant foliage
- Purple flowers on a reblooming hydrangea
Continuous Bloom or RebloomerSalt TolerantCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:MediumGarden Height:24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cmSpacing:36 - 48 Inches 91cm - 1.2mSpread:24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cmFlower Colors:BlueFlower Colors:PinkFlower Colors:PurpleFlower Shade:Rich violet-purple in acidic soils, saturated pink in basic onesFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:GreenHabit:MoundedContainer Role:ThrillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Sun to SunLight Requirement:SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBlooms On:New WoodBlooms On:Old WoodBloom Time:SummerHardiness Zones:5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9bWater Category:AverageSoil Fertility Requirement:Fertile SoilUses:Border PlantUses:Cut FlowerUses:Dried FlowerUses:LandscapeUses:Specimen or Focal PointUses Notes:Landscapes, perennial gardens, low hedges - big-leaf hydrangeas are versatile garden plants for anywhere you need some summer color.
Maintenance Notes:Soil and exposure: Big-leaf hydrangeas should be planted in moist but well-drained soil - they cannot tolerate wet conditions. It's a good idea to have a 2-3" layer of mulch in all climates. Plant with at least some sun each day; the hotter your climate, the more shade the plant can withstand.
Pruning: big-leaf hydrangeas cannot be pruned at any point in the year without negatively impacting the flowering. As such, it's best to avoid pruning this type of hydrangea altogether. If portions of the plant were damaged from winter weather, they can be removed in spring when it is clear where the new growth is emerging.
Fertilizing: The key to getting reblooming hydrangeas to produce new-wood flower buds is to keep them growing vigorously all summer. Hence, fertilizer can be beneficial. Apply a granular rose fertilizer in early spring, when the ground has thawed, and again in late spring. Never fertilize after late July; that can interfere with the plant going dormant.
Color: The "default" color for big-leaf hydrangeas tends to the pink/red tones, and that is the color they will display in neutral (pH 7.0) or higher soil. The soil must be acidic (at least 6.5 or so) for the blue color to develop, and aluminum, a naturally occurring soil mineral, must be present. If you are not satisfied with the flower color in your yard, get a soil test so that you know exactly what must be changed. We do not recommend applying any kind of treatment "just in case" - that's a waste of time and money, and could potentially lead to pollution or create inhospitable conditions in the soil.
Let's Dance® Rave® Hydrangea macrophylla 'SMNHMSIGMA' USPP 26,929, Can 5,628 -
7 Reviews
54432112Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
Stephanie, Ontario, Canada, 29 weeks ago
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I planted several in my yard while they were near full bloom in early June. They were beautiful but I noticed on hot days they wilted. I’ve been watering every afternoon to keep the soil moist but each time we have an 80-85+ degree day they get more wilted and now even burnt. I don’t think the full sun rating on these plants is accurate. That is why I bought them to partner with full sun roses in this particular spot of my yard but they just get worse and worse every time we have a hot day and they are exposed to the full sun.
Derry Allen, Massachusetts, United States, 2 years ago -
Late spring to mid summer, this plant if full of purple-blue flower, The first year it was such a deep purple, that you almost could hear the smoke on the water. I'm considering changing to pink, it might take a few years from what I understand.
Marty, 2 years ago -
Rave is definitely a Hydrangea to Rave about. Mine blooms all summer with a dozen big blooms in Royal Blue, growing next to all pink Hydrangeas. The Tag is still on year 2 so it is definitely Rave. Wish I could attach a photo. I currently have about 65 varieties of Hydrangeas and Rave is one of my consistently reliable bloomers in Full Sun.
CAROLE KINCAID, Wisconsin, United States, 5 years ago
3 More colors
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