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The information on this page is for reference only. This variety is no longer available from Proven Winners®.

Cityline® Rio Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla

Flower Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
Mature Size
3' 3' 91cm 91cm
Height: 2' - 3'
Spread: 2' - 3'
Height: 61cm - 91cm
Spread: 61cm - 91cm
  • Details

    24 - 36 Inches
    36 - 48 Inches
    24 - 36 Inches
    61cm - 91cm
    91cm - 1.2m
    61cm - 91cm

    Features

    This variety is no longer available from Proven Winners®. Alternatives include: Wee Bit Giddy® and Wee Bit Grumpy®

    Small to medium sized early blooming hydrangea with large, long lasting flowers. Mildew resistant. Compact.

    Salt Tolerant
    Small or Miniature

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Shrub
    Shrub Type: 
    Deciduous
    Height Category: 
    Medium
    Garden Height: 
    24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cm
    Spacing: 
    36 - 48 Inches 91cm - 1.2m
    Spread: 
    24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cm
    Flower Colors: 
    Blue
    Flower Colors: 
    Pink
    Flower Colors: 
    Purple
    Flower Shade: 
    depends on soil
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    Green
    Habit: 
    Mounded
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Part Sun to Sun
    Light Requirement: 
    Sun

    The 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: 
    Easy
    Blooms On: 
    Old Wood
    Bloom Time: 
    Early Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Mid Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Summer
    Hardiness Zones: 
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Cut Flower
    Uses: 
    Dried Flower
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses Notes: 

    A dramatic centerpiece for mixed container designs. Also great for mixed borders and perennial gardens.

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Add aluminum sulfate to the soil to encourage blue flower color.

    Early blooming, compact plant.

    A small to medium, early blooming selection with large flowers that range from strong blue to purple depending on the soil; add aluminum sulfate to the soil to encourage blue flower color. The blooms are large and long lasting. This plant has excellent mildew resistance, and makes a great container plant. Like the other Cityline hydrangeas, Rio is compact so it does not need pruning. It's perfect for foundation plantings and milder-climate container gardens.

    Cityline® Rio Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ragra' N/A
  • 22 Reviews

    5
    11
    4
    2
    3
    2
    3
    1
    6
    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • Like other reviewers, this plant did not bloom for several years. It did not die back to the ground but no blooms. With winter protection (Styrofoam cone) it blooms consistently. Location west facing, 3 feet from a wall, exposed to winter winds augmented by adjacent structures.

      Michael Casey
      , Quebec
      , Canada
      , 1 year ago
    • I live in zone 6 and have the same problem others have mentioned. I purchased Rio City in 2019 in August. It was a beautiful colourful hydrangea. I have yet to have this plant bloom. It grows about 6-8 inches nice looking green leaves and that’s it! Any ideas to make Rio grow or ever see a bloom?

      Elaine
      , Ontario
      , Canada
      , 2 years ago
    • I have grown several of these for 5-8 years, and I can safely say that it is NOT hardy in zone 5 if you want flowers. It kills to the ground every year, which precludes it from flowering. It is disease resistant and compact - I'll give them that. If you live in a warmer zone it might be great for you, but not on the colder end of the spectrum they list.

      JLD
      , New Hampshire
      , United States
      , 3 years ago
    • I am a landscape designer in Portland Oregon. I used 6 Hydrangea 'Rio' along a foundation at a client's front entry. They have been a spectacular success. They gave us beautiful blooms from the first growing season. They have now been in the ground 3 years and still going strong. I'm not understanding the other reviews. So I thought I would share my experience with Hydrangea 'Rio'.

      Jacque Robinsons Garden Design
      , Oregon
      , United States
      , 3 years ago
    • It has never bloomed. I have tried in a container and in the ground.

      Kim
      , Maryland
      , United States
      , 4 years ago
    • I ordered this plant in one-gallon size on July 11, 2017. All I have ever seen on it are green leaves. It dies back every winter. And develops green leaves every spring, but never any flowers of any color. Very disappointed. We have deer and rabbits. I just saw a video that suggests they may be the culprit. Perhaps. But the plant is still quite small and I would think they might would have devoured all of it. And I have seen no evidence that it's been munched on.

      Amy Puckett
      , North Carolina
      , United States
      , 4 years ago
    • i have the cityline rio which i love but there are 3 sizes i got which i did not know pruned them all back but there is 1 big one

      vivian gerard
      , British Columbia
      , Canada
      , 4 years ago
    • I have grown this plant for probably 5-6 seasons in zone 5. It is in the correct location (part->full sun), well watered and not pruned. It dies back to the ground EVERY YEAR. I have seen a single flower on 4 plants in all that time. I plan to remove it and give it away or compost it. It clearly is not truly hardy in zn 5. They should relabel to zones where it actually performs as stated.

      Jennifer Dionne
      , New Hampshire
      , United States
      , 5 years ago
    • Since planting these in May they have taken off. So far I have one pink one and the rest bluish purple and I believe it because I did not include fertilizer in that one when I planted it. These are soooooo pretty and I can’t wait to see how big they get next year. Hopefully I won’t have to tend to them as much as I had to this year so far and it’s late June. But because they are in full sun and are babes I believe the harsh sun dries it out a bit so I have to water in early morning and evening when temperatures go above 90 degrees. I love these plants wish I could show pictures. Get you one or some, I got the gallon ones cause I like BIG! Some say I have a green thumb but I just love flowers anything you love you take care of!

      Arty John
      , Michigan
      , United States
      , 6 years ago
    • I ordered six of these from Home Depot...received very small plants, five of which did not survive the winter. They were planted in May and cared for according to recommendations, but only one has come up (they didn't even get woody last year)...and the winter here in Maryland was very mild. Beautiful pictures, but for me, not a reality.

      Melissa
      , Maryland
      , United States
      , 6 years ago
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