Hydrangea Serrata Summer Glow - Hydrangea Summer Glow

Hydrangea Serrata Summer Glow is a deciduous dwarf lace cap hydrangea shrub with blue or pink flowers in summer depending on its soil acidity. It’s a lovely hydrangea that suits mixed borders, cottage gardens and plant containers.

Hydrangea Serrata is native to Japan and Korea’s mountains where it’s a spreading shrub wider than it is tall. In the Far East, it’s called Tea of Heaven or Mountain Hydrangea. The Summer Glow cultivar is bred to keep a nice compact habit that rarely exceeds a metre in height. It has pale-green scored foliage that emerges in early spring and lacecap flowers held above the foliage in the summer. Depending on the soil, the flowers are either blue or pink. Blue flowers grow in acidic soil or ericaceous compost, and alkaline soils produce pink blooms. Neutral soil usually produces a mixture of both shades.

In autumn the foliage turns deep red before falling with the frosts. 

This is a neat and compact hydrangea with excellent flowers and interesting spring to summer foliage and good autumn colour. 

Height And Spread of Hydrangea Serrata Summer Glow
This is a short, spreading hydrangea that reaches about a metre in height and spread after 10 years.

How Hardy Is Hydrangea Serrata Summer Glow
Summer Glow hydrangea is hardy in the UK if its roots are well-drained, it has some shade, and isn’t allowed to dry out.

How To Use Hydrangea Serrata Summer Glow
This small lacecap hydrangea suits mixed flower borders in cottage-style garden and large well-watered containers on a balcony, patio or deck where it brings a burst of summer colour and doesn’t get too large.
It’s also a good choice in Japanese-style gardens and any outdoor space with dappled shade.

How To Care For Hydrangea Serrata Summer Glow
Hydrangea Summer Glow likes partial shade, moist soil, and a spot sheltered from harsh wind.
It flowers on old wood so gentle pruning is needed. Cut it back after the flowers have finished to a pair of healthy buds, and trim out any damaged stems in early spring.
If you want blue flowers but have alkaline soil, it’s best to grow Summer Glow in a container of ericaceous compost. Keep it very well watered and fed with liquid hydrangea food in the flowering season. Hydrangeas don’t like drying out, so a can of water in hot spells is appreciated.
Mulch well in early spring with well-rotted organic manure or use bracken/pine-based mulch for blue flowers.