Hydrangea macrophylla Saskia

The Saskia variety of Hydrangea macrophylla is a sturdy and vigorous plant easy to grow on a terrace or balcony. It produces many round clusters of flowers in different shades of red, with white spots that make them stand out. The flowers initially appear as pink-red buds, then become dark pink with white veins, and finally turn deep red. The flowers bloom on a foliage that is dark green and elegant. Saskia variety looks great from spring to autumn, with beautiful purplish-red leaves in April and flower heads in faded tones at the end of the season.

Saskia is a variety obtained from cross-breeding between Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea serrata and other species. These hardy plants belong to the Hydrangeaceae family and are native to China and Japan. Saskia is part of a series of Dutch cultivars created from the variety Kyosumi. It has a compact, dense shape and produces many flowers. The plant grows slowly and has a bushy, dense, and rounded habit, reaching about 1m (3 ft 4 in) in all directions at maturity. The flowers bloom from June-July to September-October in slightly asymmetrical, compact, and good-sized (14-15 cm (5.5-5.9 in)) globular flower heads. The flower heads have many sterile florets that bloom in a bright pink-red shade with a white centre, a shade that tends to fade at maturity. At the end of the season, the flower heads turn sandy-brown, a soft shade among the autumn foliage. The flowers bloom on dark green summer foliage marked with purple, glossy, deciduous leaves. The leaves are wide and opposite, reaching a minimum of ten centimetres in length. They are single, ovate, and end with a sharp point. The juvenile foliage of this variety takes on red to purple shades at budding.

The Saskia variety of Hydrangea is an ornamental plant that looks beautiful from spring to autumn. You can grow it in the garden, on the terrace, or at home, alone or with a pure white variety. Hydrangeas are popular for brightening up the north side of houses. This plant thrives in an east or west exposure in the sun or half-shade, in flower beds and planted alone. This variety is suitable for container cultivation and can be planted in a beautiful pot near the entrance. Although these plants are not fond of limestone, they are not strictly ericaceous plants. You can pair them with fuchsias magellanica, annual impatiens, or plant spring-flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. You can enjoy their sumptuous flowering in the garden or the house for a long time.