Was there ever a plant more glamorous than a hydrangea? These showy, elegant shrubs are a great way to add colour and class to your garden, and fantastic value for money with their long season of interest from vibrant young growth in spring, through those spectacular flowers, staying on the plant well into winter.
Choose from Hydrangea macrophylla, the traditional mopheads which turn blue if you've got acid soil; or Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' with its great creamy puffball flowerheads. If you have room, H. aspera has lacecap flowers and huge, velvety leaves. All are easy-going shrubs given a moist soil in part shade.