(aka: Hydrangea ‘NCHA1’) We are thrilled to offer this breeding breakthrough from NCSU professor, Tom Ranney. Tom has taken the US native (New York south to Florida) Hydrangea arborescens and created a sterile (mophead) form with rich pink flowers…in other words a pink-flowered Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ with slightly smaller 6″ wide flower heads (10″ if cut to the ground in spring). The name Hydrangea ‘Spirit’ is a tribute to those dealing with and surviving breast cancer, (despite officially being rejected by the really bright EU breeders rights officials who prefer nonsensical names). A royalty from every plant sold goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Although Hydrangea ‘Spirit’ is quite drought-tolerant, a well-drained moist soil is best.
