Mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff'

Questions about mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff'

Does mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' need sun or shade?

Mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' grows in part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun) and part shade (2 to 4 hours of sun, mostly in the morning).

It wants soil that stays evenly moist, rich in organic matter, and plenty of water.

What zones does mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' grow in?

USDA zones 5 to 9. It is hardy to zone 5, which means it survives winter nights down to about −10 °F (−23 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers late June to mid September. As a summer flower it moves about half a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' be planted?

2½ ft (70 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 2½ ft (80 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 2½ ft (80 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' plants do I need?

At 2½ ft apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 2 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 5 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 7 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as a group of three or five, with a second group further along in the other number.

In the bed above, the planner used one in one group.

Is mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes: mild toxicity to people, dogs, cats and horses. Leaves and buds can cause vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten.

Rated from NC State Extension and the ASPCA. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff'?

These come closest to doing what mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• Joe-Pye weed 'Baby Joe': the same job in a bed and the same colour; 8 in narrower, flowers late July to mid September.
• Garden phlox 'Bright Eyes': the same job in a bed and the same colour; 8 in narrower, flowers mid July to late August.
• Mountain mint: the same job in a bed and the same flowering time; 4 in narrower, white, not pink.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff'?

They may. NC State does not list it as resistant to deer or rabbits. Where they visit, protect it, or plant it among ones they avoid.

What flowers after mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff'?

Mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' is over by mid September. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Toad lily: from mid September to mid October, 2½ ft tall.
• Blue wood aster: from mid September to mid October, 3 ft tall.
• October daphne: from mid September to late October, 8 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.

What does mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' look like in winter?

Mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' drops its leaves and stands as bare branches. That is when to see its shape, and to prune it if it needs pruning.

Is mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' good for bees and butterflies?

Mountain hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff' is visited by bees.