Bigleaf Hydrangea, French Hydrangea, Mophead 'Charm'

Unfortunately did not research. Planted 15 Charms three years ago. They are all very healthy, green hydrangeas with very few blooms. Read...Read More one commentator's remarks that Charms are intended to be florists' plants, to be grown in greenhouses. Read in Professor Dirr's, "Hydrangeas for American Gardens" that Charms are cold sensitive. Not sure whether that should be an issue for us in Zone 8b, 90 mile s from the Gulf coast, but our's are otherwise vibrant but bloom very little.

Bought a Charm a couple of years ago at a local nursery without researching beforehand. Liked its bright green foliage. Realized later ...Read Morethat I was outside of its listed hardiness zone (5B). Planted this shrub in a southeast-facing spot where it got 6 hours of sun. It did not thrive due to constantly needing water. Moved it to a northwest-facing foundation border where it sees 2 hours of sun and it is now thriving, with minimal watering. It will survive in zone 5 if it is near the foundation, at least. The deer have only messed with it once or twice, which is not bad considering we are overrun with them. Flowering has not been great but hydrangeas have been hit or miss in my experience.

Not much is written about this cultivar in either the "Encyclopedia of Hydrangeas (2004), or in Michael A. Dirr's "Hydrangeas for America...Read Moren Gardens." It is noted that it is a more tender cultivar and not cold hardy. Leaves are dark green, color in alkaline soil - deep pink, red; blue in acid soil. Flowers are large. AKA Charme, Charm Red. Possibly lost to cultivation. Bred by H. Cayeux, 1932, France.