Product Description

Cherry Explosion™ Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'McKay') is a lovely garden companion selected for its ability to enhance the romance, texture, and seasonal beauty of a rose garden. With its compact rounded habit, deep green foliage that turns burgundy in fall, and vivid cherry-red lacecap blooms — a unique combination of large sterile florets surrounding fertile flowers — this bigleaf hydrangea brings bold drama and textural interest while helping create a fuller, more layered planting design.

Hardy to Zone 4 and boasting a longer bloom period than many hydrangeas, Cherry Explosion™ blooms on both old and new wood, ensuring reliable color even after late frosts. Its dense, mounded, well-branched habit requires no growth regulators and is ideal for low-maintenance planting.

Maintenance Needs

• Watering: Prefers consistent moisture in well-drained soil. Water regularly, especially in hot weather.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil. Bloom color may shift from cherry-red toward pink or lavender in more acidic soils.
• Pruning: Blooms on both old and new wood — prune lightly after flowering if needed. Avoid heavy pruning in fall.
• Fertilizing: Feed in spring with a balanced fertilizer formulated for flowering shrubs.
• Winter Care: Hardy to Zone 4; no special winter protection needed in most climates.
• Pest & Disease: Low maintenance with no serious pest or disease issues.

Landscape Uses

Cherry Explosion™ Bigleaf Hydrangea is a versatile, compact shrub that fits beautifully into a wide range of garden styles and settings.

How to Use Cherry Explosion™ with Roses

Cherry Explosion™ pairs beautifully with roses by adding bold color, textural contrast, and extended seasonal interest. Its vivid cherry-red lacecap blooms create a striking complement to blush, white, and soft pink rose varieties, while its compact rounded habit creates a lush foreground that softens the base of rose bushes. The burgundy fall foliage adds a final flourish as the season winds down.

• Use in front of or beside roses for a bold cherry-red lacecap display.
• Plant near blush, white, or soft pink roses to maximize the color contrast.
• Choose for northern gardens where cold hardiness to Zone 4 is needed.
• Pair with roses that have strong fall rebloom for a coordinated late-season display.
• Allow 3 feet of spacing so the compact rounded habit does not crowd adjacent roses.