Hydrangea aspera 'Hot Chocolate'
Family - Hydrangeaceae
Category - Shrub
Origin - Raised in Kent, England
Discovered By - Raised by Maurice Foster
Year of Introduction - 2006
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H4
Height - up to 3m
Width - up to 2m
Location - The Woodland Walk
Description: Medium-sized Deciduous Shrub with a bushy habit, and an overall rounded outline. Hairy, lanceolate to ovate foliage emerges deep purple, gradually changing to dark green on the upper surface of the leaves, and deep maroon-brown on the undersides. Lacecap flowers are composed of a central group of small, violet-blue fertile florets surrounded by a ring of larger, showy sterile florets that are pink. Flowers are produced in midsummer into early autumn. The leaves turn attractive shades of orange and yellow in autumn.
'Hot Chocolate' is a trademark name the correct cultivar name is 'HPOPRO12'
Flower:
Slightly domed, lacecap-like corymbs are composed of a central group of small, violet-blue fertile florets surrounded by a ring of larger, showy, pink sterile florets. Flowers are produced from July into September.
Flower colour: Blue, pink
Flower shape: Flattened corymbs
Flowering time: July, August, September
Foliage:
Hairy, ovate to lanceolate leaves emerge purple in the spring, and as they develop and expand turn to dark green on the upper surface and deep maroon-brown on the undersides. The foliage turns attractive shades of yellow to orange before falling in the autumn.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Ovate to lanceolate
Autumn Colour: Yellow, orange
Poison Information:
May cause discomfort if ingested.
Propagation:
Cuttings.
Cultivation:
Best in partial shade in fertile, moisture retentive, but well drained soil.