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

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 means having leaves or other plant parts with streaks, blotches or patches of different colours. Typically, these would be a combination of two colours, such as green and gold or green and white.

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

A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers.

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

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

The acidity/alkalinity of soil is measured on a pH scale, which runs from 0 to 14. Neutral soil has a pH of 7. Acid (or ericaceous) soil has a pH of less than 7, and the lower the pH, the more acidic the soil. You can measure your soil pH using a simple testing kit. Acid-loving (ericaceous) plants include rhododendrons, camellias, heathers and blueberries. Adding lime to soil will reduce its acidity. A slightly acidic soil of pH 6.5 is the best general-purpose pH for gardens, allowing a wide range of plants to grow.

acid soil

• How to grow shrubby hydrangeas

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.
 

• See the full list of plants shortlisted for the 2023 RHS Plant of the Year Award