Plant Profile: Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers'

Names

Alpenglow, Alphengluen, Glowing Embers Hydrangea

  • Photo of Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers's)

Phonetic Spelling:hy-DRAN-jee-uh mak-roh-FIL-uh

Genus:Hydrangea

Species:macrophylla

Family:Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' features a compact and bushy growth habit, making it an ideal choice for smaller gardens. Its lush mophead blooms, which can reach up to 8 inches in diameter, display a stunning range of colors from deep rose-red to rich burgundy-purple, influenced by the soil's acidity.

This variety thrives in moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Like many mophead hydrangeas, 'Glowing Embers' is particularly vulnerable to drought conditions and will be the first to show signs of wilting in dry spells. To maintain moisture, a mulch layer of about 2 inches is highly advisable. This plant exhibits moderate tolerance to salt. Uniquely, it can withstand full sun without significant fading or scorching of its leaves and flowers, although it performs best in partial shade. For the most vibrant pink blooms, incorporating lime into the planting soil to achieve a pH level between 6 and 6.5 is recommended. A reliable choice throughout North Carolina, this shrub truly stands out in any landscape.

For further details on Hydrangea macrophylla, please refer to additional resources.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Feature Summary

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Image Gallery

Tags

#purple
#red
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#poisonous
#white flowers
#shrub
#pink flowers
#red flowers
#green flowers
#cut flowers
#salt tolerant
#shade garden
#cottage garden
#dappled shade
#hedges
#moist soil
#well-drained soil
#burgundy
#foundation planting
#showstopper
#long bloom time
#rich soil
#coastal plants
#rounded
#borders
#acidic soil tolerant
#dried arrangements
#small group plantings
#sandy soils tolerant
#clay soils tolerant
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Feature Summary

Flowers
Large mophead type with reddish-pink to crimson flowers that can reach 8" in diameter.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Red/Burgundy
Green
Good Cut
Showy
Long Bloom Season
Good Dried
4-5 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Poisonous to Humans
Gastronomical upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. They also can cause a decreased heart rate and lowered amounts of oxygen in the blood which can lead to breathing difficulties, and seizures. However, large quantities must be eaten for severe symptoms. They are more hazardous for cats and dogs due to their small relative size.
Hydragin cyanogenic glycoside
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Attributes
Colorful
Attractive Flowers
Easy to Grow
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Poisonous
Rounded
Erect
Mounding
Clumping
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Leaves
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Cottage Garden
Shade Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Accent
Small groups
Container
Patio
Walkways
Woodland
Coastal
Riparian
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Flowers

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Flower Description

Large mophead type with reddish-pink to crimson flowers that can reach 8" in diameter.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Poisonous to Humans

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Poison Symptoms

Gastronomical upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. They also can cause a decreased heart rate and lowered amounts of oxygen in the blood which can lead to breathing difficulties, and seizures. However, large quantities must be eaten for severe symptoms. They are more hazardous for cats and dogs due to their small relative size.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Poison Toxic Principle

Hydragin cyanogenic glycoside

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Attributes

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Whole Plant Traits

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Cultural Conditions

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Fruit

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Leaves

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Stem

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers' Landscape

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers': Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy