Hydrangea arborescens 'Ncha3' RUBY ANNABELLE® sevenbark, smooth hydrangea
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
0,5-0,6m
usual width
0,5-0,8m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
May-July
location
full to partial sun
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
3 (down to -40°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Hydrangea
Thomas Green Ranney is an American breeder of smooth hydrangeas. His possibly biggest breakthrough happened in 2006 when he reproduced his very first pink variety that is marketed in the USA as Invincibelle® Spirit, and Pink Annabelle® in Europe. Only 6 years later he made an improvement of the same plant, producing larger flowers, called simply Invincibelle® Spirit II. More importantly, along with that improvement another variety was born - this time with very dark purple pink flowers. It was named Invincibelle® Ruby in the USA, and RUBY ANNABELLE® in Europe. Patent PP28317 was issued in 2017.Description of the plant:
RUBY ANNABELLE® is a smooth hydrangea with deep purple pink flowers. They are both sterile and fertile, composed in rounded corymbs about 12 cm across, from late May until early July. If pruned immediately after flowering they can rebloom in late summer. Deciduous leaves are ovate, mid to dark green, changing to yellow in autumn.Grow this hydrangea if you are in doubt whether the large-leaved macrophylla varieties with coloured flowers will survive your winter. This one will grow happily in USDA zone 3 where winter temperatures drop down to -40°C, and can be cut severely in the spring. It can be grown as a small garden specimen plant, or placed wisely among other shrubs which it will highlight with its flower colour, or even in a perennial border where it will serve as an architectural point if grown next to mound-forming perennials.
It will grow in almost any soil type, moist soil that will not too heavy or shallow. Fertilizing is not necessary but the plant will be stronger in humus-rich soil. It benefits from regular hard pruning in early spring. Don't forget to water this beauty more frequently as it is dependent on regular water supply, especially if you grow it in a pot because this beauty is hardy to about -40°C (USDA zone 3) in the ground as well as in a container.
Last update 20-01-2019
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