This dramatic, vivid red Mophead is considered one of the best!
‘Masja’ macrophylla – a bigleaf mophead hydrangea that produces vivid red to deep purple flowers and has glossy dark green leaves. 4' POT LIVE PLANT Perennial, Shrub

This is a deciduous shrub with broadly ovate leaves. From mid-summer to early autumn, it bears deep red mop-head blooms. Hydrangea ‘Masja’ is part of the Hortensia or mophead group (large sterile florets arranged in globular or “mophead”-like panicles). ‘Masja’ makes a big impression while staying compact for the smallest of garden spaces and it has a rounded habit that typically grows 3-4′ tall. This vivid hydrangea is a hardy, easy to grow and compact plant great for small gardens and containers; loads of ball-shaped blooms against dark green glossy foliage; flowers may be purple in more acidic soil; blooms on old wood. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has forest green foliage throughout the season. The glossy pointy leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

Hydrangeas are among the showiest of all the flowering shrubs. Spectacular in any landscape design, this dazzling shrub is versatile, vigorous and easy to cultivate. Hydrangeas have huge bouquets of clustered flowers, in various arrangements from mophead to lacecap from summer through fall. Varieties of hydrangea differ in size of plant and flower shape, flower color, and blooming time. Hydrangeas thrive in a moist, fertile, well-drained soil in partial to full shade.

Hardiness

 Hydrangea is hardy from zone 6 to zone 9. So it will grow all across America except for the tip of Florida and the coldest central and eastern states. It will also grow in zone 5, but fewer flowers will be produced, especially after more severe winters. These plants do extremely well in areas with good rainfall and mild winters, so are especially admired and loved throughout the South.

Planting as a Hedge or Screen

Hydrangea should be planted 3 feet apart to make a dense informal hedge or screen. So dig a hole or a trench, two or three times wider than the pot and add plenty of organic material, like peat-moss, compost, rotted leaves or rotted manure to the soil. Place your plants in the hole or trench, replace most of the soil and firm it well down. Then water thoroughly and when the water has drained away replace the rest of the soil, being careful not to cover the roots with any extra soil. Keep well watered and apply mulch each spring to retain moisture.

Sun Exposure

Hydrangea is the ideal shrub for shady areas. It will do well in the shade from homes and buildings but will also be happy with some sun in the early parts of the day. Do not plant in hot, dry areas or in the afternoon sun. Each spring removes any weak, thin branches and cut back the tip of the stems to the first pair of healthy, fat buds. If you want to retain a lower height, cut back to buds one or two feet lower than the height you want your Nikko Blue Hydrangea hedge to be. If your plants get too large, cut back further, just leaving a few strong branches low down, but you may get fewer flowers the first year after doing this.