{"product_id":"cherry-go-round-hydrangea","title":"Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Bold Red Reblooming Mophead That Stays Red in Any Soil\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCherry-Go-Round (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Hokomaburlac') is a compact reblooming bigleaf prized for deep cherry-red mopheads that, unusually, hold their red color regardless of soil pH — no amending needed. Borne on very sturdy stems, the flowers keep coming all season. Like other rebloomers it flowers on old and new wood, so it can still bloom after a Minnesota winter sets the stems back. At the cold edge of its range here, it does best in a sheltered, part-shade spot. Whether you're adding bold red to a protected foundation bed in Edina, a courtyard in Woodbury, or a patio container in Maple Grove — Cherry-Go-Round brings rare true-red mophead color to sheltered zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHydrangea macrophylla 'Hokomaburlac'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBigleaf Hydrangea, Mophead Hydrangea, Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — compact, rounded, very sturdy stems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePart shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal in Minnesota; protect from hot afternoon sun.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to high. Needs consistent moisture — bigleaf hydrangeas wilt quickly when dry.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — marginal; reblooms on new wood, plant in a sheltered spot)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRich, moist, well-draining. Blooms stay red across soil pH — no acidifying needed.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — green leaves; dies back in winter, especially old wood in cold years.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAt its cold edge here. Old-wood buds can be killed in a hard winter, but it reblooms on new wood. Mulch the crown and site it in a protected microclimate.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot deer-resistant — protect from browsing.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCherry-red mophead heads that stay red in any soil, late spring into fall, reblooming on old and new wood.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBold red in protected beds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrue-red hydrangeas are rare — and Cherry-Go-Round keeps its red without soil amending. Site it in a sheltered, part-shade foundation bed in Edina or Minnetonka where snow protects the buds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCompact and container-friendly\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 2–3 feet it fits small beds and large containers, where it's easy to move to a protected spot for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCut flowers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bold red mopheads on sturdy stems make striking fresh arrangements all season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May) is the best window for this marginal shrub, giving it a full season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly fall (late August–mid September) also works if you plant early enough for 6–8 weeks of root growth before ground freeze, then mulch heavily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid summer planting and never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose a sheltered, part-shade spot — morning sun, afternoon shade, out of harsh wind, where snow collects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil plus 20–30% compost; rich, moisture-retentive but well-draining soil is best.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo pH adjustment needed — the blooms stay red in any soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a water basin and keep the soil consistently moist — this plant wilts fast when dry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 3–4 inches for winter protection, kept off the stems. Don't cut back old wood in fall or spring — leave it to bloom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow — keep evenly moist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 2–3 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 3–5 days; never let it wilt, especially in summer heat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBigleaf hydrangeas are the thirstiest hydrangeas — water deeply during dry spells and summer heat. Consistent moisture is the key to good bloom and avoiding midday wilt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrip keeps bigleaf hydrangeas evenly moist — place emitters 10–15 inches from the crown for this compact plant. Always winterize the system — blow out the lines before freeze and shut timers off by early October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Cherry-Go-Round bloom in Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can — it reblooms on new wood, so it flowers even after a hard winter kills the old stems, though bloom is later and best in a sheltered, well-mulched spot. Panicle hydrangeas are more foolproof for guaranteed flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to amend the soil for red flowers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — unlike most bigleafs, Cherry-Go-Round stays red regardless of soil pH, so there's no acidifying or liming required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big does it stay?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA compact 2–3 feet — ideal for small beds and containers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShould I cut it back?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid hard pruning — leave the old stems for early buds and remove only dead wood in late spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEclipse Hydrangea — a reblooming bigleaf with dark foliage and cranberry blooms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiamond Rouge Hydrangea — a hardy panicle with deep-red blooms that's foolproof in MN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangeas Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCherry-Go-Round works best as an accent rather than a long hedge in Minnesota, since it wants a sheltered microclimate. Give a single plant a 3-foot circle in a protected bed, or group 3 in a triangle at 2.5–3 feet apart for one bold block of red. For a short foundation run along a protected east-facing wall, space plants 2.5 feet apart — about 4 plants per 10 feet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leafs out late — be patient and don't prune until you see which old-wood stems survived; surviving buds give the earliest blooms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cherry-red mopheads open on sturdy stems and keep coming on new wood; the red holds in any soil, no amending tricks needed. Keep it consistently watered — it wilts fast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reblooming continues into early fall, with flower heads aging attractively; mulch 3–4 inches after the ground cools.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dies back partially or fully to the ground in cold years — expected at the cold edge of its range; snow cover and a sheltered site protect next year's old-wood buds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Shade-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/eclipse-hydrangea\"\u003eEclipse Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — a fellow reblooming bigleaf with dark foliage and cranberry blooms for the same sheltered bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/diamond-rouge-hydrangea\"\u003eDiamond Rouge Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — a bone-hardy panicle with deep-red blooms as the foolproof backbone behind it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bobo-hydrangea\"\u003eBobo Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — a compact white panicle that blooms reliably every year regardless of winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/little-lime-hydrangea\"\u003eLittle Lime Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — lime-green panicles for cool contrast against the cherry red.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCherry-Go-Round suits a sheltered, part-shade spot — morning sun, afternoon shade, rich consistently moist soil, and a protected microclimate where snow piles up — or a large patio container you can tuck away for winter. It's not a fit for exposed, windy, or dry sites, or yards with deer pressure — it's at its cold edge here and is not deer-resistant, so a hardy panicle hydrangea is the safer pick for tough locations.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54312865005873,"sku":null,"price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/cherry-go-round-hydrangea.jpg?v=1779596781","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/cherry-go-round-hydrangea","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}