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Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Mariesii Lilacina’
lacecap hydrangea
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Printer-friendly Fact Sheet
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| Outstanding Qualities |
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This old French cultivar is a strong vigorous grower, but still has a compact habit. The lacecap flowers can be sparse on young plants, but as it settles into the garden, the show becomes well worth the wait. The delicate flowers open with sterile florets, a very pale lilac surrounding the mid-blue (acid soils) to pink (sweet soils) small fertile flower in the center of the bloom. As the blossom ages the large outer floret take on tones of deep-lilac to plum. Flowers will occur on both last year’s wood and the current season of growth giving a very long season of bloom from mid summer well into autumn. The aged flowers are excellent for drying holding their color well. The bold foliage is a great textural contrast to rhododendrons and azaleas. The lovely mauves and plumy hues look great with variegated foliage or silver and gray leaves. Shade loving perennials like hostas and epimedium make a great foil around this proven summer bloomer. This cultivar is often sold under the name ‘Lilacina’. |
| Culture |
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The best growth is in partial to bright shade. A location avoiding hot sun will keep the foliage and flowers from prematurely fading or scorching. A fertile organic soil with good drainage and plenty of organic matter produces the best growth and flowering. Hydrangeas are not drought tolerant and will grow and flower more prolifically with regular summer watering. The typically acidic soils of the Pacific Northwest will cause the variable flowers to bloom toward pale lilac-blues and mauve. For lilac-pink flowers add lime to raise the pH and sweeten the soil. As the flowers age, they will take on deep-lilac or plum tones regardless of the soil pH. Changing the color can often take a few years to accomplish with more than one application of lime. For an accurate quantity of lime needed, a soil test should be done. Hydrangeas will bloom heaviest on one year old branches and to a lesser extent on new growth. Prune only to remove a few old twiggy branches to the ground yearly or lightly tip back rangy growth to improve the overall shape. Heavy pruning can ruin the flowering for the following year. |
| Growing Habit |
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Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Mariesii Lilacina’ is a compact, medium-sized deciduous shrub growing to about five to six feet tall and wide in ten years. Branches will often have a very strong upright habit with mature shrubs developing into an oval shaped habit over time. |
| Hardiness |
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USDA zones 6 to 9 |
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© 2009 Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden