💠Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
The mood-ring shrub — pink or blue depending on the soil.
Sun
Morning sun, afternoon shade (mandatory in Florida)
Days to harvest
N/A — ornamental; blooms first season
Spacing
3–4 feet apart
Soil pH
5.2–6.5 (acidic = blue, alkaline = pink)
How to grow
Plant in rich, moisture-holding soil with serious afternoon shade — Florida sun turns hydrangeas into crispy sadness. The famous color trick is real chemistry: acidic soil frees up aluminum, which turns blooms blue; alkaline soil locks it away for pink. Oakleaf hydrangea (a native!) is the tougher, more heat-proof alternative.
Water & feeding
Thirsty — mulch thickly and water deeply; wilted afternoon leaves that perk up by morning are normal, not an emergency.
Common problems
- Afternoon wilt and leaf scorch in heat
- Leaf spot and powdery mildew
- Lacebugs on stressed plants
Harvest
Ornamental — prune mopheads right after bloom (old wood); reblooming types can be cut back harder.
Nerdy fact: The color change is aluminum chemistry, not magic: in acidic soil, roots absorb aluminum ions that bind the flower pigment delphinidin into a blue complex. Your soil pH is literally a paintbrush.