Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate
Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate
Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate
Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate
Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate
Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate
Rough-leaved Hydrangea, Aspera Hydrangea
A very beautiful young plant, very vigorous, planted straight away. I can't wait to see it develop!
Carla, 05/12/2025
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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty
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Description
Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate, also known as Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate ('Haopr012'), is a tall bushy hydrangea reaching a height of 2.5 m (8.2 ft). The aspera species, with its large velvety leaves, is already uncommon in gardens. This cultivar has chocolate-purple foliage in spring which becomes dark green during summer and then turns yellow-orange in autumn. It presents an abundant flowering in delicate umbels of a "lace-cap" type, ranging from pale pink to lilac, from July to September.
Native to the South and East of Asia, the aspera species forms a large bush as wide as it is tall, up to 2 m to 3 m (6.6 ft to 9.8 ft) in size. Its leaves measure about 12 cm to 15 cm (4.7 in to 5.9 in) long by 6 cm to 8 cm (2.4 in to 3.1 in) wide. The Hot Chocolate variety displays young foliage of a beautiful chocolate-purple in spring before turning dark green. The lanceolate and velvety lamina is finely toothed on the edges and has an underside tinted with burgundy. In autumn, its leaves turn yellow-orange.
In summer, the bush bears numerous inflorescences in diffuse umbels about 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter, nicknamed "grandmother's bonnets" or "lace-caps". The inflorescences are composed of several umbellules of fertile flowers in lilac accompanied by a few large sterile flowers in delicate pink, called pseudoflowers. These flowers are reduced to 4 slightly toothed sepals.
Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate likes cool environments. Plant it in partial shade or even in shade in a place protected from cold and dry winds, in humus-rich and moist soil. This late-flowering shrub is not afraid of spring frosts.
Hot Chocolate is a perfect choice to flower a shaded area, but plant it near a path or a window because it would be a shame to miss its magnificent flowering and unique foliage. It will also make an impression at the edge of a grove, in a light understory, in the back of a flower bed, or near a shady wall of the house. It appreciates the shade cast by a wall during the hottest hours of the day
This plant works well alongside other hydrangeas, Kalmia or Azalea, for example, even if it tolerates limestone soils. In a mixed bed, choose Thalictrums, which will bring lightness to the scene, while a Gunnera will reinforce the spectacular and exotic side of Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate. A hedge of this hydrangea, bordered by Rodgersia pinnata 'Superba' with its superb cut foliage topped with pink plumes in June-July will have a grand effect. In a shady courtyard, place different pots of hostas, with their large shiny dark green leaves to contrast with the velvety purple of Hot Chocolate's foliage.
Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Hydrangea
aspera
Hot Chocolate
Hydrangeaceae
Rough-leaved Hydrangea, Aspera Hydrangea
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Plant in a shady, semi-shady, or gently sunny position, in a hole filled with a mixture of garden soil, leaf compost, and ericaceous soil if your soil is very chalky. Normally, this variety grows well in ordinary, deep, well-drained soil that remains relatively moist in summer. It is one of the few, along with Hydrangea quercifolia and its varieties, that is indifferent to the presence of limestone in the soil. A supplement of well-rotted manure or compost is a plus. Abundant watering at the time of planting and during the first two years following planting is essential, and it is also recommended to water it occasionally during the summer in case of drought. After September, stop all watering and in cold regions, protect the stumps with a mulch of dead leaves, for example. This large-growing variety of hydrangea is not suitable for container cultivation. It will be much happier in the ground.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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