Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea

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A Bold Red Reblooming Mophead That Stays Red in Any Soil Cherry-Go-Round (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Hokomaburlac') is a compact reblooming bigleaf prized for deep cherry-red mopheads that, unusually, hold their red color regardless of soil pH — no amending needed. Borne on very sturdy stems, the flowers keep coming all season. Like other rebloomers it flowers on old and new wood, so it can still bloom after a Minnesota winter sets the stems back. At the cold edge of its range here, it does best in a sheltered, part-shade spot. Whether you're adding bold red to a protected foundation bed in Edina, a courtyard in Woodbury, or a patio container in Maple Grove — Cherry-Go-Round brings rare true-red mophead color to sheltered zone 4b–5a yards. Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Plant Details Attribute Detail Scientific Name Hydrangea macrophylla 'Hokomaburlac' Common Names Bigleaf Hydrangea, Mophead Hydrangea, Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Mature Height 2–3 feet Mature Width 2–3 feet Growth Rate Moderate — compact, rounded, very sturdy stems Sun Part shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal in Minnesota; protect from hot afternoon sun. Water Moderate to high. Needs consistent moisture — bigleaf hydrangeas wilt quickly when dry. USDA Zones 5–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — marginal; reblooms on new wood, plant in a sheltered spot) Soil Rich, moist, well-draining. Blooms stay red across soil pH — no acidifying needed. Foliage Deciduous — green leaves; dies back in winter, especially old wood in cold years. Winter Hardiness At its cold edge here. Old-wood buds can be killed in a hard winter, but it reblooms on new wood. Mulch the crown and site it in a protected microclimate. Deer Resistance Not deer-resistant — protect from browsing. Bloom Cherry-red mophead heads that stay red in any soil, late spring into fall, reblooming on old and new wood. Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Uses in Minnesota Landscapes Bold red in protected beds True-red hydrangeas are rare — and Cherry-Go-Round keeps its red without soil amending. Site it in a sheltered, part-shade foundation bed in Edina or Minnetonka where snow protects the buds. Compact and container-friendly At 2–3 feet it fits small beds and large containers, where it's easy to move to a protected spot for winter. Cut flowers The bold red mopheads on sturdy stems make striking fresh arrangements all season. Best Time to Plant Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea in Minnesota Spring (late April–May) is the best window for this marginal shrub, giving it a full season to establish before its first winter. Early fall (late August–mid September) also works if you plant early enough for 6–8 weeks of root growth before ground freeze, then mulch heavily. Avoid summer planting and never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots. How to Plant Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Choose a sheltered, part-shade spot — morning sun, afternoon shade, out of harsh wind, where snow collects. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container. Backfill with native soil plus 20–30% compost; rich, moisture-retentive but well-draining soil is best. No pH adjustment needed — the blooms stay red in any soil. Build a water basin and keep the soil consistently moist — this plant wilts fast when dry. Mulch 3–4 inches for winter protection, kept off the stems. Don't cut back old wood in fall or spring — leave it to bloom. Watering Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea in Minnesota First Year Watering Schedule Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow — keep evenly moist Month 1–2: Every 2–3 days Month 3–6: Every 3–5 days; never let it wilt, especially in summer heat Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro). After Year One Bigleaf hydrangeas are the thirstiest hydrangeas — water deeply during dry spells and summer heat. Consistent moisture is the key to good bloom and avoiding midday wilt. Drip Irrigation in Minnesota Drip keeps bigleaf hydrangeas evenly moist — place emitters 10–15 inches from the crown for this compact plant. Always winterize the system — blow out the lines before freeze and shut timers off by early October. Will Cherry-Go-Round bloom in Minnesota? It can — it reblooms on new wood, so it flowers even after a hard winter kills the old stems, though bloom is later and best in a sheltered, well-mulched spot. Panicle hydrangeas are more foolproof for guaranteed flowers. Do I need to amend the soil for red flowers? No — unlike most bigleafs, Cherry-Go-Round stays red regardless of soil pH, so there's no acidifying or liming required. How big does it stay? A compact 2–3 feet — ideal for small beds and containers. Should I cut it back? Avoid hard pruning — leave the old stems for early buds and remove only dead wood in late spring. You May Also Like Eclipse Hydrangea — a reblooming bigleaf with dark foliage and cranberry blooms Diamond Rouge Hydrangea — a hardy panicle with deep-red blooms that's foolproof in MN Shop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards How Many Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangeas Do I Need? Cherry-Go-Round works best as an accent rather than a long hedge in Minnesota, since it wants a sheltered microclimate. Give a single plant a 3-foot circle in a protected bed, or group 3 in a triangle at 2.5–3 feet apart for one bold block of red. For a short foundation run along a protected east-facing wall, space plants 2.5 feet apart — about 4 plants per 10 feet. Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Season-by-Season in Minnesota Spring: Leafs out late — be patient and don't prune until you see which old-wood stems survived; surviving buds give the earliest blooms. Summer: Cherry-red mopheads open on sturdy stems and keep coming on new wood; the red holds in any soil, no amending tricks needed. Keep it consistently watered — it wilts fast. Fall: Reblooming continues into early fall, with flower heads aging attractively; mulch 3–4 inches after the ground cools. Winter: Dies back partially or fully to the ground in cold years — expected at the cold edge of its range; snow cover and a sheltered site protect next year's old-wood buds. At a Glance ✔ Shade-Tolerant Plant It With Eclipse Hydrangea — a fellow reblooming bigleaf with dark foliage and cranberry blooms for the same sheltered bed. Diamond Rouge Hydrangea — a bone-hardy panicle with deep-red blooms as the foolproof backbone behind it. Bobo Hydrangea — a compact white panicle that blooms reliably every year regardless of winter. Little Lime Hydrangea — lime-green panicles for cool contrast against the cherry red. Is Cherry-Go-Round Hydrangea Right for Your Yard? Cherry-Go-Round suits a sheltered, part-shade spot — morning sun, afternoon shade, rich consistently moist soil, and a protected microclimate where snow piles up — or a large patio container you can tuck away for winter. It's not a fit for exposed, windy, or dry sites, or yards with deer pressure — it's at its cold edge here and is not deer-resistant, so a hardy panicle hydrangea is the safer pick for tough locations. Show more