Panicle hydrangea 'Big Star'

Panicle hydrangea 'Big Star' (Hydrangea paniculata 'Le Vasterival') lives up to its name completely: the panicle is built not from small florets but from large white stars with narrow, wavy petals. From a distance it looks as though a constellation had been scattered over the bush, slowly turning pink by autumn.

Plant it as a specimen on the lawn or in a group wherever you want a big, airy panicle visible from the far end of the garden. A mature bush is 1.5-2.5 m tall and 1-1.5 m wide, with strong shoots that hold the heads up without tying. Unlike dense-headed cultivars such as 'Bobo', this flower is open and light.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: Each panicle carries about 17 star-shaped sterile florets up to 10 cm across, screening some 200 small fertile ones.
• Dimensions: At 10 years the bush holds 1.5-2.5 m in height and 1-1.5 m in width.
• Hardiness: Hardy to -40 °C (USDA zone 3), overwintering without cover.
• Flowering: From July to September white star-shaped flowers open and later turn pink.
• Light: Full sun or partial shade - any side of the garden will do: south, north, east or west.
• Soil: Loves soil rich in organic matter, moderately moist yet well-drained; loam and clay suit it perfectly.
• Watering: Water moderately and regularly so the soil stays evenly moist - no drying out and no standing water.
• Care: It flowers on the current year's shoots, so prune with confidence in late winter or early spring.
• Landscape use: Groups and drifts in a mixed border, a specimen on the lawn or an informal hedge - all of it flowering at the end of summer.
• Origin: Found as a bud mutation in the garden of Le Vasterival in Normandy; it is sold as both Big Star and Great Star.