President R Touchard Hydrangea

President R Touchard Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'President R Touchard') is a compact bigleaf hydrangea about 1.2m tall and wide, with big mophead flowers that are usually a warm purple. Soil pH can pull the colour towards pink, and the plant is very cold hardy. Its tidy size fits borders and containers alike.

Why you'll love it

• Warm purple mopheads. Big round heads in a rich, warm purple, a colour few hydrangeas hold so well.
• Flowers for months. Heads arrive in late spring and carry into summer against soft light green leaves.
• Very cold hardy. A dependable choice for cold-winter gardens in the southern states and the highlands.
• A neat, borderable size. At around 1.2m it slots into a border without taking it over.
• A little soil-driven variety. Acid soil shifts the shade slightly towards blue, and neutral to alkaline soil pulls it towards mauve and pink.

Where it works best

Mixed borders. Plant 1m apart in rich, moist soil. The purple heads sit well with white flowers and silver foliage nearby.

Large containers. A pot at least 45cm wide keeps it manageable on a terrace, with regular watering through summer.

Cottage and woodland gardens. It suits the relaxed, layered planting of a shaded cottage bed.

Growing President R Touchard Hydrangea in Australia

Position and climate. A partly shaded position suits it best, with protection from harsh afternoon sun. It is happiest in cool temperate and warm temperate gardens; in subtropical gardens plant it in deep afternoon shade.

Soil. Rich, moist soil with good drainage. Dig in compost and mulch around the base, and test the pH if the exact shade matters to you.

Water and feed. Water regularly for the first 8 to 12 weeks, then give plenty in dry periods. Give it a slow release fertiliser at the start of spring.

Pruning. Bigleaf hydrangeas bloom from last year's stems, so avoid hard cutting. Snip off spent blooms above a pair of healthy leaves and remove only dead or weak stems.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell President R Touchard Hydrangea as tube stock only. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. Expect leaf growth first, with flowers building over the first couple of seasons. It travels upright and is best planted or potted on soon after it arrives.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare all our hydrangeas
• How to read and shift hydrangea colour
• More deciduous shrubs
• Good plants for pots

Common questions

Is it a true purple?

Usually it opens as a warm purple, but soil pH can move the shade a little. Acid soil leans blue, while neutral to alkaline soil leans mauve and pink.

How much cold can it take?

It is very cold hardy when dormant. A hard late frost can burn new spring shoots, so a cloth cover on cold nights helps in frost-prone gardens.

Can I keep it in a pot?

Yes. Its compact size suits large containers, as long as it is watered often and moved out of hot afternoon sun.