Common hydrangea

A big, blousy, rounded shrub packed with mid-green leaves, flowering in blue and pink in July and August. If you grow it on acid ground, there will be more lilac flowers, while alkaline soil generates pink. Shelter from cold, drying winds is essential as this can spoil the foliage and flowers. To promote plenty of fresh, new, vigorous growth on established plants, cut back hard in early spring. Prune out from one-third to one-quarter of last year's growth to the base each year to encourage the plant to produce new shoots.

Looks good with:

Berberis thunbergii 'Bagatelle'
Rosa 'Prince Charles'