Early Blue' is a compact, rounded, deciduous shrub to 1.5m tall and wide with dark green, broadly ovate, toothed leaves. Large, rounded clusters of flowers open pale blue with creamy-green centres in summer before darkening to violet-blue Growing Details: Common Name: Early Blue Genus: Hydrangea Species: Macrophylla Skill Level: Beginner Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade Hardiness: Hardy Soil type: Well-drained/light, Clay/heavy Height: 150cm Spread: 150cm Description: This hydrangea is deciduous so will begin to change the leaf colour in September ready for all the leaves to fall off and then new foliage will grow in Springtime. Colours & Soil Acidity In most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In these species the colour is affected by soil pH. For H. macrophylla and H. serrata cultivars, the flower colour can be determined by the relative acidity of the soil: an acidic soil (pH below 7), by the influence of sundry agents in the soil, such as alum or iron, will usually produce flower colour closer to blue, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will produce pinker flowers. This is caused by a colour change of the flower pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up into hyperaccumulating plants Weather can influence the colour of hydrangea leaves, causing large areas of purple discoloration. Cool weather near the end of the growing season may trigger the plant's dormancy early, allowing the purple leaf colour to show through as the green chlorophyll factories shut down for the season.