Bella Anna Hydrangea arborescens Shrub

Plant Patent #21,227. Cultivar name: 'PIIHA-I'. Another in the splendid series of reblooming Hydrangeas in Dr. Michael Dirr's Endless Summer® series, Bella Anna™ is a rosy-pink flowered selection of our native American species, H. arborescens -- essentially a pink 'Annabelle'! Blooming on both old and new wood, this very vigorous shade-loving shrub regales you with big round mophead blooms from early summer through the middle of fall!

The show begins in spring, when the large, bright green leaves unfurl on very well-branched, densely mounded plants. Expect Bella Anna™ to quickly reach its mature size of about 6 feet tall and wide, clothed in handsome foliage right down to the ground.

The blooms begin with the first breath of summer heat. Rounded and packed with bright magenta-pink florets, they arise on extra-strong stems that hold them upright without flopping. As with all Hydrangea blooms, they last and last. Cut all you like for Everlastings or fresh indoor arrangements -- there will be a second "crop" where these came from!

The rebloom usually occurs in late summer or early fall, continuing well into autumn on new growth. Bella Anna™ is hardy through zone 4 in the north, so even if a late frost should nip the first round of blooms in the bud, you are guaranteed a full flush of color from the repeat!

If you love reblooming Hydrangeas, do take a look at the others in the series -- the original Endless Summer®, white-to-pink 'Blushing Bride', and the first-ever reblooming lacecap, Twist-n-Shout®. They bring the beauty of Hydrangea to the north, and extend the color display in the midwest, south, and far west! Highly recommended. Zones 4-9.