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Hydrangea macrophylla Magical® Elizabeth Ashley™

A plant with a purpose

When we think about honoring someone special, we look back on all of their accomplishments, big and small; how the room lit up when that person entered, their loving-kindness, how bright and eager they were to learn, their insatiable thirst to experience more about this amazing world through books and travel… Elizabeth Ashley had all of these attributes and so many more. Her sweet spirit and warm smile brought joy to all she came in contact with. Elizabeth was tragically ripped away from the world she so embraced while on her way to her first week of college by a speeding, drunk driver. It is through this lovely Hydrangea that we honor her.

Cheerful, billowy flowers in taffy pink or soft blue (depending on the soil pH) form round flowerheads so dense, there’s hardly room for leaves. A compact grower with strong stems and sturdy flowers, this consummate gift plant makes an ideal transition from gift to garden and is equally valuable as a cut flower for fresh arrangements. Flowers show their first hint of color in May/June and continue through summer, with fresh new blooms replacing the older ones. A Hydrangea that never stops giving, as flowers mature they take on deeper, vintage hues of velvety rose or violet-blue, both accented with green eyes. Long-lasting in both the garden and the vase, Magical® Elizabeth Ashley will bring joy to any outdoor setting and create beautiful floral displays indoors as well.

Who Am I?

  • Common Name:
    Magical Elizabeth Ashley hydrangea
  • Botanical Name:
    Hydrangea macrophylla 'Hokomarore' PP31264
  • Type:
    Shrub

Cultural Details

TYPE

Shrub
  • Light:
    Part sun-prefers afternoon shade
  • Soil:
    Average garden soil
  • Moisture:
    Moist, but well-drained
  • Hardiness Zone
    5-9
  • Size:
    3' tall by 3' wide
  • Bloom Time:
    Summer on old and new wood
  • Bloom Color:
    Medium Pink or blue
  • Diseases & Pests:
    None known
  • Stem Count

    First year: 5

    Second year: 12

    Third year: 12

    Fourth year: 12

    Fifth year: 12

    Sixth year: 12

What Makes Me Special?

One of the best gift-to-garden Hydrangeas ever bred, Elizabeth Ashley has it all: exquisite reblooming flowers, strong stems and a compact habit.

Landscape Use

Borders, containers, cutting gardens, foundations, mass plantings, urban gardens

Pruning

If you live in the North: Cut off any dead wood in late May, after the leaves have started to unfurl. If you live in the South: Should you see any dead wood, prune it back to live wood in early spring, after the leaves have started to unfurl.

Propagation

Cuttings

Who Am I?

  • Common Name:
    Magical Elizabeth Ashley hydrangea
  • Botanical Name:
    Hydrangea macrophylla 'Hokomarore' PP31264
  • Type:
    Shrub

Image Library

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