tuff_stuff_hydrangea-12 - Grasshopper Gardens

Tuff Stuff Hydrangea

Reblooming Lacecap Flowers
Compact Mounded Habit
pH-Responsive Color

Our Guarantee Customer Reviews

The Grasshopper Guarantee

We guarantee that your plants and trees will arrive happy and healthy. If you’re not satisfied after receiving your trees and plants, we’ll replace them at no cost to you. Trees and plants are living organisms and require care, maintenance, and protection to survive, root in, and establish properly. Trees that do not survive despite receiving the proper care, maintenance, and protection within the first year will be considered for a one-time replacement. If you purchased plants outside of your growing zone recommendation, or have not properly cared for your new plants as described in your welcome letter, your purchase won’t be covered by our Grasshopper guarantee.
FREE Local Delivery

Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

518-793-9623.
In Stock
518-793-9623

Tuff Stuff Hydrangea

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Tuff Stuff Hydrangea

Tuff Stuff Hydrangea is a compact reblooming mountain hydrangea with colorful lacecap flowers, tidy green foliage, and a rounded habit. Its smaller size and long summer bloom window make it excellent for foundation beds, part-sun borders, woodland edges, containers, and specimen plantings.

Why choose Tuff Stuff Hydrangea?

Choose Tuff Stuff Hydrangea for reliable reblooming color in a compact shrub that fits beautifully into smaller landscapes. This mountain hydrangea offers the delicate look of lacecap blooms with improved cold tolerance compared with many traditional bigleaf types. Flowers may appear pink, purple, or blue depending on soil chemistry, giving the plant a naturally changing seasonal display. Its tidy habit means little pruning is needed, making it a practical choice for low-maintenance borders, foundations, and patio gardens.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Hydrangea serrata Tuff Stuff™ ‘MAK20’
Common Name: Tuff Stuff Hydrangea
Plant Type: Deciduous flowering shrub
Growth Habit: Compact, mounded shrub

Tuff Stuff Hydrangea Additional Information

Tuff Stuff Hydrangea typically grows about 2–3 feet tall and wide, forming a neat mound that works well in both formal and relaxed garden designs. Its lacecap flowers begin in early summer and can continue through late summer because this variety blooms on both old and new wood. Flower color is influenced by soil chemistry, with pink tones more common in neutral to alkaline soils and purple-blue tones developing in acidic soils with available aluminum.

This shrub is deciduous, dropping its leaves in winter and returning with fresh growth in spring. It performs well in part sun to sun, with afternoon shade helpful in hotter locations. Avoid heavy pruning because early flowers form on older stems. Tuff Stuff Hydrangea is well suited for foundation plantings, mixed shrub borders, pollinator-friendly gardens, large containers, and small-space landscapes where refined summer color is desired.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Tuff Stuff Hydrangea in part sun to sun with moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Morning sun and afternoon shade are especially helpful in warmer or exposed garden sites.

2. Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during the first growing season while roots establish. Once established, water deeply during dry spells, especially in sunny locations, containers, or fast-draining soils.

3. Mulching: Apply a 2–3 inch layer of shredded bark or organic mulch around the root zone to help conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and protect shallow roots.

4. Pruning: Prune only lightly. Wait until new growth appears in spring, then remove dead or damaged stems. Avoid heavy pruning, since this hydrangea can bloom on older wood as well as new growth.

Related Resources

FAQs

How big does Tuff Stuff Hydrangea get?
Tuff Stuff Hydrangea typically grows about 2–3 feet tall and wide, making it a compact choice for foundations, small borders, containers, and specimen plantings.
When does Tuff Stuff Hydrangea bloom?
It blooms from early summer into late summer. Because it flowers on both old and new wood, it can provide a longer bloom season than many older hydrangea selections.
Will Tuff Stuff Hydrangea flowers change color?
Yes. Flower color depends on soil chemistry. Blooms tend to be pink in less acidic soils and purple-blue in acidic soils where aluminum is available.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Thrives
Partial Shade
Flowering

Mature Height	Medium: Up to 4 ft
Mature Spread	0-5 ft
Growth Rate	Fast, Moderate
Botanical Name	Hydrangea?serrata
Bloom Time	Late Summer, Mid Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually
Family	Hydrangeaceae
Flower Color	Blue/Purple, Pink
Maintenance	Low
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Hardiness Zones	5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Size	#3 Container

Map of the United States with most states filled in dark green and a few states left uncolored in white, indicating coverage in the shaded areas.

Growing Zones 5-9 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -20)

Compare Similar Products

Name	Amber Jubilee Ninebark	Spice Baby Viburnum	Center Glow Ninebark	Crispa Cutleaf Stephanandra	Summer Wine Ninebark	Miss Kim Lilac
Rating
Mature Height	Extra Large: Above 6 ft	Extra Large: Above 6 ft	Small: Up to 15 ft	Large: Up to 6 ft	Small: Up to 15 ft	Extra Large: Above 6 ft
Mature Spread	5-10 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft
Growth Rate	Fast	Moderate, Slow	Fast, Moderate	Fast	Fast, Moderate	Moderate, Slow
Bloom Time	Early Summer	Early Spring	Early Summer	Late Spring	Early Summer	Late Spring, Early Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually
Family	Rosaceae	Adoxaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae	Oleaceae
Flower Color	White	White	White	White	Pink	Blue/Purple
Hardiness Zones	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Needs	Full Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun
Maintenance	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low