Cardinal Red Hydrangea – 1 Gallon Pot

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‘Cardinal’ is a mophead Hydrangea that produces deep pink flowers that fade to red. Flowers are more red in acid soil conditions. Flowers are a standout in the garden during summer and are excellent for cutting and use in fresh or dried flower arrangements. The leaves are beautiful green and turn a lovely purple in the fall. Cardinal is a fast grower to about 4 to 5 feet in height and wide in 3 years.

Note: If we are sold out of Cardinal Red Hydrangea check to see if we have Charm Red Hydrangea or Glowing Embers Hydrangea, two other varieties we think are very close to or the same as Cardinal Red. 

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Hydrangea variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and place back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Cardinal Red Hydrangea is easy to grow in a moist but well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, depending on your climate. Plants will tolerate full sun in northern zones however appreciate some afternoon shade or filtered sun in warmer southern zones. We suggest at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day or all day lightly filtered sun for best flowering. Mophead-type Hydrangea produce blooms only on old wood (growth from the previous year). This means that even though it is tempting to cut them back in the winter, when they are only bare sticks jutting out of the ground, don’t do it. The flower buds are already formed and hidden in those bare sticks, so don’t cut them off if you want flowers! 

Note:  Cardinal Red is a Hydrangea macrophylla species that produces its flowers from buds that formed on “old wood” (during the previous year). This means that even though it is tempting to cut them back in the winter, when they are only bare sticks jutting out of the ground, don’t do it. The flower buds are already formed and hidden in those bare sticks, so don’t cut them off if you want flowers.

Get tips for proper pruning time and technique in our article titled How To Prune Various Types Of Hydrangea

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Hydrangea shrubs.