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Tuff Stuff vs Red Tuff Stuff

6 years ago

Does anyone grow both of these? How are they different? I thought the PH of the soil would determine the bloom color on the Serratas? So do you have to amend the soil for less acidity to get to the red? I have ES Original and it blooms blue (when it decides to bloom) with no PH adjustments. So more acidity here. Will Red Tuff Stuff really be red?

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Comments (5)

luis_pr
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
One is supposed to be a darker pink than the other but not a true red. As usual and as you suspected, "Plant tolerates a range of soil pH, however, flower color will vary depending on whether soil is acid, neutral or alkaline." That is from the PW website. Thus, I would expect to have to amend with garden lime.

https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/hydrangea/tuff-stuff-red-mountain-hydrangea-hydrangea-serrata
mary1nys thanked luis_pr
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
It might be an interesting experiment to see if planting one in your unamended naturally acidic soil would produce purpley-pink flowers or even blue flowers.
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mary1nys
Original Author
6 years ago
I just picked up a Red Tuff Stuff and was wondering the same thing gardengal. It's going in unamended!
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
6 years ago
I'd love a report back in a year or two since I've been wondering the same thing. My Tuff Stuff is blue to purple, and ages to a pinkish purple at this time of year.
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
6 years ago
I did have "Red Stuff" but in last year's drought and heat I lost it :(.

But as many of you know I am enamoured with simple "Tuff Stuff". It was in bloom in mid July and here it is approaching mid November.

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