Hydrangea macrophylla Eughen Hahn

The Hydrangea macrophylla 'Eughen Hahn' is a superb variety of Hydrangea with a compact habit and abundant flowering. It produces round inflorescences in red colour for a good part of the summer. This bush forms a dense clump of about 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) in diameter, with slightly glossy green leaves and slightly wavy. Hardy, this Hydrangea should be placed in a shaded position, in neutral to acid soil. It is easy to grow, requiring only annual pruning in spring and watering in summer to keep the soil moist at its base.

The Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous bush, native to Japan, where its beauty has been appreciated for centuries and mentioned in poems dating back to the 8th century! In this country that attaches great importance to plants, festivals are even dedicated to this bush. This variety 'Eughen Hahn' is a creation of August Steiniger, renowned in the world of Hydrangeas.
In summer, it flowers for about 6 weeks, between July and September, producing an abundance of inflorescences measuring 12 to 15 cm (4.7 to 5.9 in) in diameter. These vermillion red balls are composed of numerous double florets, tightly packed together. The ball-shaped habit and the shiny green leaves enhance the abundant flowering that covers the bush, making it an attractive visual point in the garden.

A small-sized bush, about 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) in all directions, this Hydrangea, like all H. macrophylla, is not a strictly heathland plant, but prefers neutral to acidic soils. A semi-shaded to shaded position in a warm climate will suit it well, as well as watering in summer because it does not tolerate drought (from the soil and atmospheric) which can cause its leaves to wilt. Care consists of annual pruning in spring, before the new leaves emerge. This bush with its long summer flowering is very hardy (-20°C (-4 °F) or more, although severe frosts may damage the ends of the branches, they easily regrow after spring pruning. Easy to grow, it can live for a very long time.

The Hydrangea 'Eughen Hahn' is a little gem that can be grown in a container. In this case, a location rather exposed to the east, with a few hours of morning sun but shade in the afternoon, should be chosen. Use slightly acidic potting soil (pH around 6) and apply some organic fertilizer in spring, with a high potassium content to promote flowering. Monitor watering as soon as temperatures rise to avoid drying out the substrate.
This bush will also be perfect when planted in flower beds, where it will have a great effect in combination with other flowering shrubs that prefer non-limestone soils. Choose plants with staggered flowering throughout the year to frame the flowering of this Hydrangea. For the beginning of the year, the excellent Hamamelis 'Diane' will brighten up the short February days with its spider-shaped red flowers. In spring, nothing beats a beautiful variety of Camellia like 'Sweet Olive' with its overlapping flowers in shades of pink to white in March-April, followed in May-June by a Kalmia, or mountain laurel, among the many available varieties. And to end the year beautifully, a Camellia sasanqua with its fully open petals and bright yellow stamens will be perfect.