Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ami Pasquier')
The compact Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ami Pasquier' offers showy mophead blooms from June to August. A medium-care Bigleaf hydrangea thriving in zones 6-9.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ is a highly valued Bigleaf hydrangea cultivar, prized for its compact size and consistent mophead floral display. This deciduous shrub brings vibrant, long-lasting summer color, ranging from crimson red to deep blue depending on soil chemistry. It offers excellent structure in the garden, maintaining a tidy, rounded habit perfect for smaller spaces.
As a member of the Hydrangea macrophylla group, ‘Ami Pasquier’ requires diligent attention to soil moisture and pH to maximize bloom potential. Gardeners aiming for high performance must ensure it receives consistent moisture, especially when situated where it might receive afternoon sun. Its reliable mid-summer flowering makes the Bigleaf hydrangea a cornerstone plant in many landscape designs.
This compact cultivar typically matures between three and four feet tall and wide, making it less imposing than some older varieties. Whether used as an accent or massed in a border, the deep green foliage of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ provides a lush backdrop for its showy flowers throughout the warmer months.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Hydrangeaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 6-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 3-4 ft
- Spread: 3-4 ft
- Bloom Time: June to August
- Bloom Description: Red, wine purple, blue
- Sun Exposure: Part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Optimal planting for the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ involves siting it in rich, well-drained soil amended with organic matter. While it prefers part shade, it can endure full sun only if the soil remains consistently moist throughout the growing season. Planting is best achieved in spring or early autumn, allowing the Bigleaf hydrangea time to establish its root system before extreme weather hits.
Watering is crucial for this variety; maintain medium soil moisture levels at all times. Mulching annually with three inches of shredded bark, compost, or peat helps retain soil moisture and regulates root temperature, which is especially beneficial in zones near the lower limit of its hardiness. Fertilization is generally not required if the soil is rich, but consistent feeding is secondary to proper water management.
Pruning for Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ should be minimal. If cuts are necessary, make them immediately after the summer blooming period concludes, cutting flowering stems back only to a set of healthy buds. Any weak or winter-damaged wood should be selectively removed in very early spring before new growth accelerates.
Winter preparation is key for zones 6 and 5. While hardy to zone 6, extremely harsh winters can damage flower buds, leading to few or no blooms the following year. In colder pockets, providing light winter protection, such as wrapping stems with burlap, can safeguard the wood that carries next year’s bloom.
Landscape Uses
The compact nature of Bigleaf hydrangea makes Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ incredibly versatile. It excels when grouped or massed in the front or middle of a mixed shrub border, providing reliable summer color. Due to its substantial foliage and attractive habit, it also functions beautifully as a specimen plant near patios or entries where its blooms can be closely admired.
Consider using this cultivar to soften foundation plantings where it receives protection from intense midday or afternoon sun. It also performs well in large containers, offering portable color that can be moved to the ideal light conditions throughout the season. When selecting companions, choose plants that share similar needs for medium moisture and dappled light, such as hostas, astilbes, or shade-tolerant evergreens.
This mophead hydrangea brings structure and bold texture to Asian-inspired or cottage garden designs. Its vibrant flower colors, which shift based on soil acidity, invite creative color-blocking efforts within the garden layout, making careful soil amendment a key design consideration.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hydrangea macrophylla, commonly called big leaf hydrangea, is a deciduous shrub with a rounded habit featuring large clusters of long-blooming summer flowers in the mophead form. ‘Ami Pasquier’ is specifically part of the hortensia group, displaying globular panicles of sterile florets blooming reliably from June for up to two months. The flower color of this cultivar is highly responsive to soil chemistry, displaying crimson red in alkaline conditions, shifting to wine purple, and finally blue in highly acidic soils.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
Bigleaf hydrangeas like the ‘Ami Pasquier’ can occasionally face minor pest or disease pressure. Gardeners should monitor for some susceptibility to fungal issues such as leaf spot or mildew, which often signal overly wet conditions or poor air circulation. Occasional aphid infestations can typically be managed with a strong spray of water or insecticidal soap.
Bacterial wilt presents a more serious but less common threat, manifesting as a sudden wilting of foliage even when soil moisture is adequate. Proper cultural care—ensuring well-drained soil and avoiding overhead watering—is the best defense against most common afflictions affecting this robust shrub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Bigleaf hydrangea suitable for?
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ is winter hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9.
How large does Bigleaf hydrangea grow?
This compact cultivar typically reaches a height between 3 and 4 feet and spreads the same distance, 3 to 4 feet wide, when grown under optimal conditions.
What sun exposure does Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ need?
This plant performs best in part shade. It can tolerate more sun if the soil is kept consistently moist.
When does Bigleaf hydrangea bloom?
The prolific blooms on Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ appear from June through August, showcasing a range of red, wine purple, and blue colors.
Conclusion
The Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ delivers dependable, showy mophead flowers in a manageable size, making it an excellent choice for foundation plantings and borders. Mastering the relationship between soil pH and vibrant color is rewarding when growing this Bigleaf hydrangea. Before planting, confirm your location is within USDA Zones 6-9 and develop a plan to manage its medium water needs throughout the summer.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions that prefer similar light and moisture conditions will enhance the overall health and appearance of your Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’ planting. Consider surrounding the Bigleaf hydrangea with acid-loving shade perennials like Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) for complementary texture. Ferns, such as the Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum), offer delicate fronds that contrast beautifully with the large, rounded leaves of the hydrangea.
For structure nearer the ground in deep shade areas, try planting low-growing groundcovers that appreciate rich soil, such as Vinca minor (Periwinkle). These companions will help shade the shallow roots of the hydrangea while suppressing weeds and stabilizing the soil moisture crucial for deep red or brilliant blue flower production on your Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ami Pasquier’.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is the time for essential preventative care. Prune out any dead or spindly wood after new buds begin to swell, but avoid heavy cuts, as this cultivar blooms on old wood as well as new. Apply a fresh layer of organic mulch around the base to maintain cool root temperatures throughout the coming growing season.
Summer care centers entirely around water management. Monitor the soil closely, especially during heat waves, ensuring the medium moisture level is maintained without becoming waterlogged. This is also the only viable time to make significant soil pH adjustments if you wish to influence the bloom color of your Bigleaf hydrangea for the following year.
In autumn, after the foliage drops, do not cut back the stems unless they are obviously damaged. If winter protection is planned for zone 6 gardeners, this is when protective barriers should be installed before the first hard freeze arrives. Prepare for another vibrant bloom season by ensuring soil health remains top-notch.
