Professional Growing Information 
Zone 6. First three years in the ground with 4 hours of daily sun - plenty of foliage but no reblooming and no blooming. I ask only one thing from my blooming shrubs - right? Took them out of the ground at the end of last summer, placing them into 16" containers. Rolled them into the garage in December (no light, very little water once monthly). Back outside in April after the KC springtime freeze thaw cycle was complete (regularly 84 degrees down to 21 degrees within 36 hours.) Massive improvement! Full bushy shrubs with many blooms on old and new wood (except for one bush that has no blooms whatsoever.) Wintering inside is a game-changer in my zone. Almost threw them out, but I'll be keeping them in containers from now on.
Tuff Stuff™ Reblooming Mountain Hydrangea Hydrangea serrata
Exposure
- Part Sun to Sun
- Sun
Flower Season
- Spring
- 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
So pretty, it's hard to believe it's so tough!
But indeed, Tuff Stuff™ mountain hydrangea lives up to its name. It shares the showy blooms and beautiful pink or purple color of big-leaf hydrangeas, but because it grows wild on the chilly mountain tops instead of the mild seaside, it naturally developed substantially better cold tolerance. The sturdy lacecap blooms will be bright pink or deep purple-blue, depending on your soil pH, and the handsome dark green foliage resists wilting. If you've had trouble getting big-leaf hydrangeas to bloom reliably in your landscape, try Tuff Stuff - it's the reblooming hydrangea that really does.
Top reasons to grow Tuff Stuff hydrangea:
- less affected by cold winters than big-leaf hydrangeas, but equally colorful and showy
- lacecap flowers attract pollinators
- reblooms: blooms early in summer on old wood, then again on new wood
- tidy habit means no pruning
Best SellerContinuous Bloom or RebloomerAttracts:ButterfliesCharacteristics
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:Blue-purple in acidic soils, pink in basic ones.Foliage 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:Early SummerBloom Time:Mid SummerBloom Time:Late SummerHardiness Zones:5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9bWater Category:AverageUses:Border PlantUses:LandscapeUses:Specimen or Focal PointUses Notes:Landscapes
Maintenance Notes:Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Supplemental water may be needed in very hot weather. In hotter climates, afternoon shade is beneficial. Like all hydrangeas, it benefits from a 2-3"/5-7 cm layer of shredded bark mulch.
Tuff Stuff hydrangea should not be pruned except to remove any dead wood in spring, after the new growth begins to emerge on the stems. Older plants can have their oldest stems thinned periodically.
Flower color will vary depending on soil. In acidic soils with abundant aluminum (a naturally occuring soil mineral), color will tend more to purple-blue. In alkaline soil or those lacking in aluminum, flowers will be a deep pink.
Tuff Stuff™ Hydrangea serrata 'MAK20' USPP 24,820, Can 4,527 -
16 Reviews
584432221Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
Erik Renaud, Kansas, United States, 23 weeks ago
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What a beauty! I was gifted this bush two years ago. This is its third summer. Lacking ground room for it, I planted it in a large container, facing west in my yard. It was in bloom when I got it, and it has not failed to bloom each season since planted. I am astounded by the fact that although it is in a container, it has more than doubled in size, and bloomed beautifully with little fuss or bother, just some fertilizer in spring, and water when it’s dry. Would definitely recommend this hydrangea. Love it.
Tessa, New York, United States, 1 year ago -
I’m located in the midlands region of England Zone 8a and this plant has done exceptionally. We had a few late spring frosts where temperatures went below freezing and this plant was in full leaf and it didn’t suffer at all. I did cover it with an old bed sheet just to be on the safe side! It’s been in colour for a good two months now. I have one that is blue and one that is pink. The ‘blue’ one is more on the mauvey-purple side. Both colours are equally as nice and stand out very well! Trying to find another one to purchase.
Kurt Ilko, United Kingdom, 1 year ago -
I have had this plant in the ground since 2012 and it has not grown over a foot tall with very minimal flowers. I have moved it three times from the southside, to the north side and now on the west shadier side of the house (more trees) and it is still underperforming. I have over 40 hydrangeas and this one I am about to give up on. I think I may put it in a pot and see what happens.
Rose Bailey-Hammock, Missouri, United States, 2 years ago -
I am in zone 8b and this shrub does not tolerate afternoon sun very well when the temps are in the 80s or above. The leaves and blooms get crispy. I think I will have to move it to a shadier spot. Also the blooms are stubbornly bright pink despite soil acidifier.
TMY, Washington, United States, 2 years ago -
I love this hydrangea! I have had it in a large container for 3 years now on the south side of my home and every year it comes back beautifully. It is in partial shade and even with the humidity and high heat it hasn’t missed a beat. Every late fall I pack 2-3” of mulch around the soil and in the spring give it a good dose of fertilizer and some aluminum sulfate to bring out the blue. I have flowers everywhere about late June. Never expected it to do so well in a container. Can’t say enough about it!
Dawn Reynolds, Illinois, United States, 2 years ago -
I bought three ONLINE and they are doing beautifully!!!! All three were planted in the shade. They can tolerate a lot of shade. Plant them about an inch above ground so they don't drown. I have sandy soil and live in zone 7b. I dug a wide hole. Put Bio-Tone at the bottom of the hole (follow package directions). Also added earthworm castings liberally. The castings do not burn the roots. You can also mix in some compost. And I mulched well around the plants. I love these particular hydrangeas because the fertile flowers are good for the bees and other wonderful pollinators. Also try the Twist N Shout. Very similar, but grows a little taller.
Marge, New York, United States, 3 years ago -
Beautiful but not very “tuff”. Needs pampering with water in dry heat. I have mine in shade from afternoon sun and it still goes wilted on and off.
Scott, Colorado, United States, 3 years ago -
I’ve got 2 of them in zone 5a. Temperamental and finicky like all other hydrangeas. Beautiful green foliage but overall, I can’t say I’m really into them. Best advice- STAY AWAY from whatever your nursery talks up and tries to sell you when you’re unfamiliar with the variety (exactly what mine did to me..). Wish I wouldn’t off been so easily persuaded and bought Annabelles instead... now I’m stuck with these 2 shrubs in my garden that I just feel “ehh” about.
Spencer, Michigan, United States, 4 years ago -
I planted 6 of these last year; two in containers and 4 in ground at two different locations (zone 5). The potted plants over wintered in my three seasons room and boomed when things warmed up. They are easily 30" high and wide and covered in blooms. The 4 planted in the ground died all the way back and are slowly growing this year. We had a very mild winter, and since these are to bloom on old and new wood, I didn't expect they would fully die back. It will be mid-July before there are any blooms. Two were planted in a southern exposure which I believe was too harsh for them. The summer heat gave them a beating, even with regular watering. I expected a plant named "Tuff Stuff" to be hardier. For a comparison, the Annabelle, planted at the same time in the same areas, are booming.
Jessica O'Malley, Illinois, United States, 4 years ago
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