Cityline^® Paris Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla

Many years ago the bright red blooms on Paris hydrangea at a garden centre enticed me to buy it. At the time I knew very little about hydrangea types. I did not know that Paris bloomed on old wood. If a severe winter kills most of the branches, the plant starts again from scratch with new wood, so no blooms. For many years I tried winter protection without any success. Last fall I mounded the base with peat moss, covered the plant with straw, then placed a garden blanket over the straw. We had a normally cold winter similar to places in many northern states (Michigan, Minnesota, etc.). The hydrangea is blooming beautiful red blooms! First time!. Hydrangeas like Annabelle and paniculata hydrangeas (Pinky Winky, Fire Light etc.) thrive better in northern climates with much less care.

got 3 of these in 2019 at Sullivans in Indy and the first summer they were in bloom when I purchased them. Since then 1 has bloomed with only 2 blooms, 2 have never bloomed and look terrible. I've tried to amend soil, and even put more light on them using a solar light since I have them in part sun/part shade I thought they needed more light stimulation. After that one plant grew about 4" and one that had not bloomed produced 1 bloom. I'm reading these other great successes and thinking I may dig and put in my garage for the winter and use them as pot plants each summer. Lot of work but I just would love to have them thrive and bloom!

I have grown two of these in pots for three years now. They are stunning beautiful. Every year, full of blooms. The flowers stay on the branch till frost, look great all the time. In my area, I think this plant is full shade. At first I put them in my patio which has about 4 hours direct sun, they got sun burn immediately. Then I moved them to my front porch on the stairs, and they still got some sun burn for 1 hour sun, Since I moved them into a spot without direct sun, they have been thriving. The whole plants are covered with flowers now. When all the flowers are in bloom, you can barely see the green leaves.

Love this hydrangea. I have it planted in a pot and it flowers all summer and into autumn. One of my favourite's and I have many.

We are in zone 5b and this plant never bloomed in 3 years even with winter protection. Last fall I dug it up, put it in a pot and wintered it in the garage. It must have been too warm, in garage as started leafing out end of Feb. Moved to sheltered balcony & then replanted in garden after frost free date. It was already flowering at this point. Will replant in pot again in fall, but will overwinter in a sheltered east facing spot outdoors. . I guess all the extra work is worth being able to enjoy the blooms in the summer. Not a practical plant for zone 5.