Hydrangea macrophylla Kumiko

The Hydrangea macrophylla 'Kumiko' (also known as Mrs Kumiko) is a recent addition to floristry due to its excellent durability in vases and the garden. This variety blooms abundantly throughout the summer, displaying beautiful, dense, ball-shaped flower heads with lovely, toothed florets between mauve and pink. Each floret is accented with a small, soft yellow to anise green centre. The compact bush has sturdy stems adorned with magnificent, bright green foliage and an upright habit. This beautiful bush is perfect for a romantic garden, and its stunning flowers can be enjoyed in dry or fresh bouquets in the home.

Hydrangea macrophylla Kumiko, also known as 'Lady Kumiko', 'Asuka' and 'ASKA', is a new plant variety not yet widely available. It was created by cross-breeding several species from the Hydrangeaceae family, originally from China and Japan. 'Kumiko' has a compact and tufted habit and can grow up to 1m (3 ft 4 in) in all directions. It has sturdy branches and produces abundant flowers from July to August to September. The flowers are almost round and dense, reaching 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 in) in diameter. They are made up of sterile florets with dentate petals. The flowers turn mauve in acidic soil and a little pink in neutral soil. The colour of the flowers evolves towards cream-white or pale yellow tinted with green. The plant has shiny and ample foliage, which is bright green and deciduous. The leaves are ovate to elliptical, roughly saw-toothed and reach a minimum of 20 cm long. Hydrangeas can live for at least 50 years.

Hydrangea Kumiko is a robust and compact plant that produces long-lasting flower heads. These plants are ideal for brightening up the north side of houses and can also thrive in an east or west-facing area that doesn't receive direct sunlight. You can grow them in groups or hedges or place them in containers on your terrace or near the entrance. While these plants don't tolerate limestone soil well, they are not strictly ericaceous plants. You can pair them with magellanica fuchsias, annual impatiens, or plant spring bulbs in front of their round shape. These plants offer a beautiful and long-lasting bloom that can be enjoyed indoors and outdoors.