Hydrangea Shakira

A beautiful, white, mophead hydrangea providing long-lasting colour from midsummer to autumn, Hydrangea macrophylla Shakira is a vigorous, small to medium-sized, deciduous shrub with a bushy, rounded habit. The ovate leaves are deep green and slightly toothed, appearing quite early in the year. From midsummer to autumn the shrub bears big, pure white, mophead flowers, which can be dried for beautiful flower-arrangements; they remain white whatever the soil pH, and do not fade to pink. Leave the dead flowers on the bush to protect the shoots against frost, and prune them off to a pair of healthy buds in mid-spring. Hydrangea Shakira is best in milder gardens.

Site: Tolerates some exposure
Soil: Any moist but well-drained soil
Position: Best in partial (afternoon) shade; tolerates full sun in reliably moist soil
Season of interest: Late summer to autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 4 (1.2m) Spread: 5 (1.5m) in 5 years