Gift hydrangea: Strawberries and Cream™

Download the plant bio in Microsoft Word format: Plant portfolio Gift hydrangea Strawberries and Cream.doc; Tesselaar Gift Hydrangeas FAQ.pdf.

Bringing a touch of summer to early spring, this beautiful lacecap hydrangea has been bred specially for indoor flowering. Strawberries and Cream gift or “florist” hydrangea is a stunning dark rosy-red, white-centered macrophylla hydrangea. Compact in habit, it’s a lovely, long-flowering plant that should be left inside while it flowers (4 to 6 weeks). Once the bloom cycle is completed, it can be planted outside in a patio pot in the summer, or in the garden in Zone 7 and warmer.

KEY FEATURES

• Prolific flowering with beautiful dark rosy-red flowers surrounding creamy white centers
• Deep green foliage
• Compact mounding bush

Suggested uses

Indoor flowering plant, patio plant or in Zones 7 and higher, planted in the garden after bloom cycle is completed and nighttime temperatures exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Growth Habit

Compact mounding habit, grows to 2 ft wide and tall if planted in the ground.

Flower Size

5-6” lacecap-type flowers in clusters.

 Spacing

Plant 18” apart.

 Hardiness

USDA Zone 7.

Flowering Period

4-6 weeks as an indoor house plant, longer if planted in the garden in Zone 7 and higher.

Number Of Flowers

Masses of lacecap flower clusters covering the plant.

Flower Color

Dark rosy-red, offset by a light center.

 Fragrance

Not fragrant.

 Foliage

Deciduous plant with medium-sized rich, dark-green leaves.

 Pruning/Pinching

Not necessary, but can prune to shape after flowering if required. Blooms on old wood and shouldn't be pruned after July 30.

 Temperature

Foliage can be scorched during very hot weather particularly if the plants are exposed to full sun for part of the day. NOTE: Not winter-hardy below Zone 7.

Light Needs

Full sun to partial Shade. In extremely hot climates, plant where it receives filtered light.

Soil Needs

Performs best in friable, well-drained soil high in organic matter with a pH of 6.5 to 7 to maximize the red coloration of the open flowers.

Water Needs

As a house plant, keep well watered. In the garden, water well to establish. As with most macrophylla hydrangeas, soil should be kept moist for best performance.

 Fertilizer

Feed with a general purpose fertilizer (20:20:20) before growth occurs in the spring.

Disease Tolerance

No different than other varieties; well-grown plants have minimal issues. If insects or mildew become an issue, ask about best sprays at your local nursery. 

Pest Issues

Similar pest tolerance to other varieties.

Special Care

Strawberries and Cream is grown in greenhouses and should not be placed outdoors until after all blooms have faded and nighttime temperatures exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, no special care. Mildew may be a problem when weather conditions favor disease.