Bigleaf Hydrangea, Lacecap 'Mousmee'

According to Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide revised, by Toni Lawson-Hall and Brian Rothera, 'Mousmee' was hybridized by Cayeux, 1967. It ...Read Moreis similar in form to the "Teller" hydgangeas, but from a French nursery instead of the typical Swiss. It is a large and vigorous plant although a bit lax in growth. The pedicels are especially long, often up to two inches in length. This means the florets are held way away from and above the fertile flowers which form a deep royal blue center to the large inflorescence. The color combination with the florets in purple makes a striking combination. Later the florets flatten, partially covering the fertile flowers and then reverse to show a pale lilac. The season of colorful display is long. Flower head: irregular lacecap, size of head: medium to large, Sterile flowers: cupped early, in and around head, Sepal number: 4-5 totally overlapped, Sepal immature: rose cream colored
Sepal mature: purple/pink, cream center; Sepal autumnalL flat, reverses to pink; Fertile flower immature: pink, red; Fertile flower matureK deep royal blue; peduncle: brown, Pedicle: long, red; reported for PH: 6.5; leaf light green, darker autumn color, smooth texture, back of leaf is lighter green, veins more obvious on reverse, edges curve up, branch is green speckled red, petiole: plain green, heighth medium to large flowering time is mid to late season.

From the sources "Hydrangeas for American Gardens," by Michael A. Dirr (2004), and "Encyclopedia of Hydrangeas" C.J. and D.M. Van Geldere...Read Moren (2004 - Timber Press):

A strong growing shrub that occasionally can get up to 6.5' in mild conditions. Flowers are rose to vivid hot pink in alkaline, violet blue in acid soils and there may be little spots on the ray-flowers, which are in a scattered ring around the fertile flowers. Corymbs are large, up to 8". Dark green leaves, heavy stem with red streaks. Flowers June through September, flowers turn an antique color or purplish-blue in autumn.