Professional Growing Information 
Planted a couple of years ago in zone 5a. Struggles mightily with the heat even with watering (real “tuff”). Have to move to much more partial shade region. Have had no blooms - tHis year. Would NOT recommend.
Tuff Stuff™ Reblooming Mountain Hydrangea Hydrangea serrata
Exposure
- Part Sun to Sun
- Sun
The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Flower Season
- Spring
- Summer
Mature Size
Height
24 - 36"
Spread
24 - 36"
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Details
Features
So pretty, it's hard to believe it's so tough!
But indeed, Tuff Stuff™ mountain hydrangea lives up to its name. It shares the showy blooms and beautiful pink or purple color of big-leaf hydrangeas, but because it grows wild on the chilly mountain tops instead of the mild seaside, it naturally developed substantially better cold tolerance. The sturdy lacecap blooms will be bright pink or deep purple-blue, depending on your soil pH, and the handsome dark green foliage resists wilting. If you've had trouble getting big-leaf hydrangeas to bloom reliably in your landscape, try Tuff Stuff - it's the reblooming hydrangea that really does.
Top reasons to grow Tuff Stuff hydrangea:
- less affected by cold winters than big-leaf hydrangeas, but equally colorful and showy
- lacecap flowers attract pollinators
- reblooms: blooms early in summer on old wood, then again on new wood
- tidy habit means no pruning
Best SellerContinuous Bloom or RebloomerAttracts:ButterfliesCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:MediumGarden Height:24 - 36 InchesSpacing:36 - 48 InchesSpread:24 - 36 InchesFlower Colors:BlueFlower Colors:PinkFlower Colors:PurpleFlower Shade:Blue-purple in acidic soils, pink in basic ones.Foliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:GreenHabit:MoundedContainer Role:ThrillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Sun to SunLight Requirement:SunMaintenance Category:EasyBlooms On:New WoodBlooms On:Old WoodBloom Time:Early SummerBloom Time:Mid SummerBloom Time:Late SummerHardiness Zones:5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9bWater Category:AverageUses:Border PlantUses:LandscapeUses:Specimen or Focal PointUses Notes:Landscapes
Maintenance Notes:Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Supplemental water may be needed in very hot weather. In hotter climates, afternoon shade is beneficial. Like all hydrangeas, it benefits from a 2-3"/5-7 cm layer of shredded bark mulch.
Tuff Stuff hydrangea should not be pruned except to remove any dead wood in spring, after the new growth begins to emerge on the stems. Older plants can have their oldest stems thinned periodically.
Flower color will vary depending on soil. In acidic soils with abundant aluminum (a naturally occuring soil mineral), color will tend more to purple-blue. In alkaline soil or those lacking in aluminum, flowers will be a deep pink.
Tuff Stuff™ Hydrangea serrata 'MAK20' USPP 24,820, Can 4,527 -
7 Reviews
53423221-
Eric, New Hampshire, United States, 8 weeks ago
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I’ve got 2 of them in zone 5a. Temperamental and finicky like all other hydrangeas. Beautiful green foliage but overall, I can’t say I’m really into them. Best advice- STAY AWAY from whatever your nursery talks up and tries to sell you when you’re unfamiliar with the variety (exactly what mine did to me..). Wish I wouldn’t off been so easily persuaded and bought Annabelles instead... now I’m stuck with these 2 shrubs in my garden that I just feel “ehh” about.
Spencer, Michigan, United States, 16 weeks ago -
I planted 6 of these last year; two in containers and 4 in ground at two different locations (zone 5). The potted plants over wintered in my three seasons room and boomed when things warmed up. They are easily 30" high and wide and covered in blooms. The 4 planted in the ground died all the way back and are slowly growing this year. We had a very mild winter, and since these are to bloom on old and new wood, I didn't expect they would fully die back. It will be mid-July before there are any blooms. Two were planted in a southern exposure which I believe was too harsh for them. The summer heat gave them a beating, even with regular watering. I expected a plant named "Tuff Stuff" to be hardier. For a comparison, the Annabelle, planted at the same time in the same areas, are booming.
Jessica O'Malley, Illinois, United States, 18 weeks ago -
I love this hydrangea! It attracted so many honey bees this summer it looked like it was moving. Beautiful vibrant colour. I planted 3 in 2018 and planted 4 more this summer. It’s a must have addition to any garden. The compact size makes it easy to tuck it in just about anywhere.
Sandie Harman, Canada, 1 year ago -
I purchased the tuff stuff hydrangea in April 2017. It had a couple of blooms when it arrived but after transplanting no additional blooms occurred for the remainder of the 2017 season. This year I have one bloom that occured in July 2018. Even with only one bloom this season it is beautiful. Overall it looks healthy and happy, I just wish for more blooms...hopefully next year. I live in zone 5a and it has survived two winters. For me it is not a fast grower but I did not expect it to be. Overall, I am happy with my purchase. I can't speak about it being a rebloomer because for me this has not yet occured.
Melissa Spino, Michigan, United States, 2 years ago -
Great Bush, it’s on it’s 3rd summer. This lest winter was extremely frigid in my area and this beauty came through like a champ. Make sure to mulch it good late spring/early summer and keep watered on hot weather.
Anne D, Illinois, United States, 2 years ago -
Have had this plant for a season and a half. It is a vigorous producer of new stems compared to most hydrangea. Mine was killed to the ground in the Polar Vortex in zone 6B, but has rebounded with 40+ new stems. As with most new wood bloomers and rebloomers, most growth this year following the vortex came in the form of thick stems and large leaves with few blooms. There were around 5 total blooms around the base/perimeter of the plant, but that was it. I'd expect a lot more after a milder winter. The bloom performance was on par with staples like Endless Summer and the Let's Dance series, as nothing across the board bloomed very well this summer. I believe the advertised size should be bumped up a bit, since mine has grown from the ground to a height of 30" and a width of 50+" in one season alone. I'd imagine milder climates could see one of these reaching 5x5'!
Springwood Gardens, 6 years ago
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