Hydrangea aspera subsp. ‘Sargentiana’ or Sargent hydrangea

Family:Hydrangeaceae

H. aspera subsp. sargentiana is an upright medium-sized deciduous shrub of open habit, with peeling bark and large, velvety ovate leaves. Flowers in large flat heads, purple or blue, surrounded by white ray florets.  This a really beautiful,  graceful shrub, often overlooked, but don’t because it is so lovely…

It fills a space in a border tolerating full sun or partial shade and will take all aspects including sheltered or exposed. It likes moist but well-drained soil.

It grows to 1.5 – 2.5 in height and reaches 1.5 – 2.5 metres in spread.

Grow in city/courtyard gardens, cottage/informal garden or flower borders and beds.

Good combination: Hydrangea aspera subsp. ‘Sargentiana’, Macleaua x Kewensis ‘Kelway’s Coral Plume’  and Euphorbia characias ‘Silver Swan’

Hydrangea villosa subsp. ‘Sargentiana’ with Euphorbia characias ‘Silver Swan’ photographed by Caroline Garland