(Hydrangeaceae)
Hydrangea kwangsiensis  BSWJ11609

Description

A remarkable semi-evergreen species to 2m tall with chestnut brownish stems of narrow thick textured serrulate leaves, bearing May to August axillary and terminal corymbs of blue flowers subtended by white to blue sterile florets during early summer-autumn. A species we have encountered several times during our expeditions in northern Vietnam, which we used to consider as being part of H. indochinensis. From one of our collections gathered in the cool mountain Séo Mí Tý of northern Vietnam with Peter Wharton, in the autumn of 2006 at 1700m. Best grown in shelter from cold winds in a drained fertile soil with a bit of moisture retention, sun to part shade.