General Description
Compact and very cold hardy, The cool lacecap ‘Grayswood' becomes covered with pink or pale lavender blue flowers. A long-blooming period and pretty russet red-brown foliage color are two more of its admirable attributes.
This hardy deciduous flowering shrub has a rounded bushy habit, coarse, dark toothed leaves and maintains a relatively compact stature. Its big flower clusters have small fertile flowers towards their centers and showy sterile flowers along the edges. Flower color is pH dependent, acid soils encourage bluer flowers and alkaline soils pinker, though the blooms are so pale that soil pH is a negligible factor. As the blooms age, they turn rich shades of burgundy rose.
This hydrangea grows happily in full sun or partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Pruning is rarely necessary but should be done immediately after bloom. This is an outstanding landscape shrub for partially shaded gardens and foundations. Its beautiful flowers have a long vase life and also dry well and can be used as everlastings.
Characteristics
AHS Heat Zone9 - 5
USDA Hardiness Zone5 - 9
Sunset Zone3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant TypeShrub
Sun ExposureFull Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Height4'-5' / 1.2m - 1.5m
Width4'-5' / 1.2m - 1.5m
Bloom TimeEarly Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Native ToJapan, Korea
Growing Conditions
Soil pHAcidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil DrainageWell Drained
Soil typeClay, Loam
Growth RateFast
Water RequirementsAverage Water
HabitOval/Rounded
Seasonal InterestSummer, Fall
Ornamental Features
Flower InterestShowy
Flower ColorWhite, Light Pink, Burgundy, Light Blue
Fruit ColorTan
Foliage Color (Spring)Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Foliage Color (Summer)Red, Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Foliage Color (Fall)Red, Dark Green, Bronze
Bark ColorBrown, Sandy Brown, Gray
Fragrant FlowersNo
Fragrant FruitNo
Fragrant FoliageNo
Bark or Stem FragrantNo
Flower Petal NumberSingle
Repeat BloomerNo
Showy FruitNo
Edible FruitNo
Showy FoliageNo
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage SheenMatte
EvergreenNo
Showy BarkNo
Special Characteristics
Bark TextureSmooth
UsageContainer, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Sharp or Has ThornsNo
InvasiveNo
Self-SowingNo
Properties