The Mophead forms of Hydrangea macrophylla are tremendously popular and have come to epitomize what we think of as Hydrangeas, just as Hybrid Tea roses have become symbolic of roses. They represent a natural variation on the wild flower form of the hydrangea, a variation in which most of the tiny fertile florets at the center of the broad flower cluster have developed extra large sepals or petals. In this form the flower head also changes from the broad, round plate of the Lacecap to a domed or rounded ball of flowers. We find the Mophead form also in Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’, commonly known as the Snowball bush, that similarly differs from its common wild form, which is a Lacecap. Other hydrangea species have similarly produced this variant, including Hydrangea arborescens.
The Mophead has great appeal, in part because so much more color is produced on the plant. A heavily blooming Mophead hydrangea can be so covered with florets that most of the plant’s foliage is obscured. The additional large florets also lend to the flower head a tendency to dry effectively so that the floral form is preserved. This has led to the popularity of the Mophead hydrangea as a dried flower. Those which color well often retain much of the brilliance of their fresh flowers when air-dried, and many dry naturally on the plants, their colors aging to beautiful antique shades of purple, copper, bronze, mahogany and green. Many white-flowered mopheads mature to pale shades of green.
Most Macrophyllas thrive in soils that are regularly watered, of average fertility, and in situations of very bright filtered light or morning sun followed by shade. Many will tolerate the cold in USDA zone 6B with some shelter, though only those capable of rebloom are likely to flower well. Extreme summer heat stresses these plants and often ruins their flowers as well as their large, fleshy foliage. Plants are fast-growing, but range from very dwarf to very large in size.
To find out more about color in these plants and how to alter it, refer to our special section on Color in Hydrangeas. Also check out our tips on drying Hydrangea blossoms in the same section of the website.
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