Hydrangea macrophylla Magical® Opal

The matriarch of the Everlasting line, Opal continues to amaze. Sturdy, mop head blooms on thick, upright stems emerge bright, lavender-pink.  As the blooms mature, they change to lime green and develop pink picotee markings, but remain strong and sturdy as a cut flower. The final aging stage of this grand and stately beauty is celadon green, a favorite of mine and many brides too. This is one plant you’ll want in your garden for viewing and for cutting year after year.

Gardeners will love the mopheads of the Magical® Everlasting Series with their variety of colors, handsome foliage, and sturdy plants. Each stem is a bouquet, and even a young plant makes a show worthy of Mother’s Day. Be sure to create a display of Everlasting hydrangeas as a gift, perhaps in a planter ready to adorn the doorstep. On the other hand, one stem in a pretty vase at checkout will send customers back to the nursery wanting more. These hydrangeas got their start as strong-stemmed cut flowers, but they have proven to be outstanding plants overall and garden hardy in zones 5 to 8.

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.