Nikko Blue Bigleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nikko Blue'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Nikko Blue Bigleaf Hydrangea - Quart Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Nikko Blue Bigleaf Hydrangea highlights at a glance!
-
Brand
-
Plant Class
-
Botanical Name
-
Growing Zones6, 7, 8, 9
-
Mature Height
-
Mature Spread
-
Sun ExposureFull Sun, Partial Shade
-
Moisture
-
Soil
-
Growth RateMedium
-
Flower Color
-
Pollinator FriendlyYes
-
Pruning Time
-
Bloom PeriodSummer, Fall
Growing Zones 6-9
True blue is a challenging color to find in a low-maintenance plant, much less one that comes back year after year. Then to find one that thrives in your shade garden? It may seem almost impossible. But along comes the Nikko Blue Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nikko Blue') and this shrub is the standard for blue flowers in your shade garden!
The white pompoms form in summer and soon transform into a solid blue as the plant matures. The mophead can grow up to 6 inches long, and as the blooms age, they change colors as they do while remaining on the plant until they dry and become a winter interest.
Nikko Blue is a fabulous bigleaf type and pH-sensitive type of Hydrangea, so it will be blue in acidic soils. Adding peat or aluminum sulfate to keep your soil lower in pH. But like all classic Hydrangeas, the flowers will lean toward lavender or even pink if the soil is less acidic.
Planting and Application:
It only takes a few of these beauties to fill up a bed. They quickly grow to 6 feet high and just as wide every year. They make great statement plants in your front yard under trees. They also thrive as foundation plants or backing up a classic cottage border. Use as foundation plants or hedges, backdrops to the garden or create lovely screening around seating areas.
A single specimen among your cottage garden or mixed shrub border adds a pop of color in the shade, while a pair of sentries on either side of your front entry stairs, or astride your driveway are a welcoming sight! A ring of these around your patio table will ensure you have guests joining you for dinner all summer long. Don't forget about the armloads of blooms you'll be bringing into your home, too! One flowerhead can fill a vase!
- Large Flowers Perfect for Cutting
- Blooms for Months!
- Mid-Sized Deciduous Compact Shrub
- Great Foundation or Border Plantings
- Best-Selling Hydrangea
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Hydrangea shrubs need partial sun or part shade, favoring afternoon shade in the hotter climates for best results. Plant in well-drained and highly organically enriched soil. If poor drainage is at all suspected, mound up the soil to raise the root system above the water line and plant into that mound. Top off with a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch chips. Prune back the old blooms in early spring removing any old or dead wood, but leaving nice viable stems for best flower production. Some like to remove the oldest flowering stems to the ground leaving the younger stems in place to bloom in the current growing season.
- Partial Shade
- Well-Drained Soil
- Organically Enriched Site
- Deadhead Often & Prune Immediately After Flowering
- Blue or Pink According to pH
This is our most popular and best-selling Blue Bigleaf Hydrangea and Nikko is sure to sell out, so don't be left without this in your garden for another year. Buy now from NatureHills.com before this classic beauty is gone!
