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RHS Plant of the Year 2023 runner-up: Hydrangea Euphoria Pink

Love it or hate it, this sparkling new hydrangea extends its colourful season with unique variegated foliage

Hydrangeas are becoming a big deal. Two are previous RHS Chelsea Plant of The Year winners, and this year, another new hydrangea almost won the award, but was pipped at the post by Agapanthus Black Jack and took second place instead.

Hydrangea serrata Euphoria Pink is the first

variegated variety of this neat, easy-to-grow species, providing sparkling foliage colour from when the leaves first open in spring until they drop in autumn. The display reaches its peak in summer, when the colourful foliage is joined by an abundance of equally colourful flowers.

A unique new shrub

“This is the first Hydrangea serrata where the foliage is as stunning as the flowers,” said Peter Freeman of Thompson & Morgan, who are heading up mail order sales of the hydrangea. “The unique tri-coloured foliage kickstarts the spring season when the leaves are at their most vibrant, in pinks and green and white. As the temperature rises, the variegated foliage turns green and white, with the new shoots having a delicate pink tint.
 
“Then from June to August, lacecap-style flowers burst from pink

buds into beautiful two-tone ruby red blooms with pale pinky-white centres. However, as this is a variety of Hydrangea serrata, if the plant is grown in acid soils, the flower colour will change to a two-tone violet-blue with white centres.
 
“This bushy, compact shrub grows to 1m tall and is hardy down to -20C. It’s perfectly suited to borders and containers in sun or shade.
 
“Stunning tricolour foliage and two-tone lacecap flowers are sure to make Euphoria Pink hydrangea an amazing focal point in any garden.”

Opinion divided

This is an ideal shrub for patio planters and other containers as it brings colour in two forms – foliage and flowers – from spring to autumn. But the unusual colouring of this new hydrangea divided opinion among both Plant of the Year judges and Chelsea visitors. Many loved it, but for others, the exuberant foliage was just a bit too much.
 
Close inspection of the plant on display at Chelsea revealed that the white edges of some of the leaves were slightly scorched, so rather than give Euphoria Pink full sun, grow it in partial shade or bright light out of direct sun. For violet-blue flowers, plant in a container filled with lime-free ericaceous

compost or in acid soil in the garden. For red flowers, choose a regular compost or lime-rich garden soil.

 

Where can I buy Hydrangea Euphoria Pink?

You can buy Hydrangea serrata Euphoria Pink (‘Gotemba Nishiki’) from Thompson & Morgan and from garden centres across the country.
 


 
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