{"product_id":"endless-summer-original-hydrangea","title":"Endless Summer Original Hydrangea","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Reblooming Bigleaf Hydrangea Bred to Flower in Cold Climates\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEndless Summer The Original (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer') is the variety that made bigleaf hydrangeas possible in the North — a reblooming mophead that flowers on both old and new wood, so it can still bloom even after a Minnesota winter kills the stems back. Big rounded flower heads come in blue or pink depending on soil pH. It's at the cold edge of its range here, so it does best in a sheltered spot. Whether you're brightening a part-shade bed in Edina, anchoring a protected foundation in Woodbury, or chasing that classic blue mophead in Maple Grove — Endless Summer is the most MN-friendly bigleaf for zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEndless Summer 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 'Bailmer'\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, Endless Summer The Original\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 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\u003e3–5 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 — rounded, mounded habit\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\u003e4–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — hardy here, but plant in a sheltered spot for the best bloom\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. Acidic soil yields blue flowers; alkaline (typical MN clay) yields pink.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — glossy green leaves; dies back in winter, especially the 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\u003eHardy to zone 4, but old-wood flower buds can be killed in a hard winter. Because it reblooms on new wood, it still flowers — just later. 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\u003eLarge mophead flower heads, blue or pink by soil pH, summer 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\u003eEndless Summer Hydrangea Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProtected part-shade beds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGive it morning sun and afternoon shade in a wind-sheltered spot — a north or east foundation, a courtyard, or a bed protected by other shrubs. These microclimates in Edina or Minnetonka hold snow and protect the buds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe classic blue mophead look\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor blue flowers, lower your soil pH with aluminum sulfate or an acidifying fertilizer; in typical alkaline Minnesota clay the flowers lean pink. Either way the reblooming habit keeps flowers coming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContainers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing Endless Summer in a large container lets you control soil pH for blue blooms and move it to a protected spot for winter — a popular approach in the Twin Cities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Endless Summer 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 strong roots 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 Endless Summer 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. This matters for a zone-4-edge shrub.\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; bigleaf hydrangeas want rich, moisture-retentive but well-draining soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFor blue flowers, amend with aluminum sulfate or elemental sulfur to acidify; for pink, leave alkaline clay as-is.\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 root and crown protection, kept 2 inches off the stems. Do not cut back old wood in fall or spring — leave it to bloom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Endless Summer 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 any dry spell and through summer heat. Consistent moisture is the key to good bloom and avoiding the dramatic midday wilt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrip is ideal for keeping bigleaf hydrangeas evenly moist — place emitters 12–18 inches from the crown and run regularly in heat. 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 Endless Summer bloom in Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's the bigleaf bred for cold climates. Because it reblooms on new wood, it flowers even when a hard winter kills the old stems, though bloom is later and best in a sheltered, well-mulched spot. It's the most reliable mophead for the Twin Cities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I get blue flowers instead of pink?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlower color depends on soil pH: acidic soil makes blue, alkaline makes pink. Minnesota's clay tends alkaline, so add aluminum sulfate or an acidifying fertilizer for blue, or grow it in a container where pH is easy to control.\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 — they carry early flower buds. Only remove clearly dead wood in late spring once you see where it's leafing out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy did it survive but not bloom?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a hard, open winter the old-wood buds can die. The plant then reblooms on new wood later in summer. A protected spot, winter mulch, and good snow cover give you earlier, heavier bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEndless Summer Twist-n-Shout — a reblooming lacecap version of the same cold-hardy bigleaf\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLimelight Hydrangea — a panicle hydrangea that blooms reliably every year in MN with no fuss\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 Endless Summer Hydrangea Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreat Endless Summer as a massed accent rather than a hedge in zone 4b–5a. Groups of 3 spaced about 3.5 feet apart (center to center) knit into one billowing blue-or-pink mass along a protected east foundation; a 10-foot sheltered wall takes 3 plants. As a single specimen, give it a 5-foot circle so the rounded 3–5 foot mound can fill out. One per large container works beautifully where you want pH-controlled blue blooms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEndless Summer Hydrangea Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leafs out late — hold the pruners until you see green, then remove only confirmed dead wood; surviving old-wood buds give the earliest mopheads. Pull winter mulch back gradually.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The classic show — big rounded heads in blue (acidic soil) or pink (alkaline clay), reblooming on new wood all season. Keep it evenly moist; it wilts dramatically when dry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flowers keep coming until frost and dry to parchment tones. After leaf drop, mound 3–4 inches of mulch or leaves over the crown to insure next year's buds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Old stems may die back in a hard, open winter — expected at the cold edge of its range. Snow cover in a sheltered spot is the difference between early and late bloom next year.\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\/endless-summer-twist-n-shout-hydrangea\"\u003eEndless Summer Twist-n-Shout Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — the reblooming lacecap sibling that adds an airier flower form to the mophead mass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/endless-summer-bloomstruck-hydrangea\"\u003eEndless Summer BloomStruck Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — purple-pink heads on striking red-purple stems for a deeper tone in the same bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/limelight-hydrangea\"\u003eLimelight Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — a bulletproof panicle that guarantees bloom every Minnesota year, whatever winter does to the bigleafs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/emerald-spreader-yew\"\u003eEmerald Spreader Yew\u003c\/a\u003e — a low evergreen carpet that keeps the sheltered part-shade bed structured after the hydrangeas die back.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Endless Summer Hydrangea Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's the right pick if you want the classic blue\/pink mophead look and can offer morning sun, afternoon shade, rich evenly moist soil, and a wind-sheltered spot where snow collects — plus a fall mulch habit. It's not a fit for exposed, dry, or high-deer sites: it's the thirstiest hydrangea type, deer will browse it, and in an open windswept yard the old-wood buds die most winters, pushing bloom late — choose a panicle type there instead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54312874311985,"sku":null,"price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54312874344753,"sku":null,"price":46.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/endless-summer-original-hydrangea.jpg?v=1779596782","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/endless-summer-original-hydrangea","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}