I planted Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha four years ago, in good soil with compost, in a border with 7 hours of sun. It had maybe three blooms the first summer after planting. The stems are notably less hardy to winter kill compared to 'Tiny Tuff Stuff' which I have two plants of. And it has never had a bloom on current year's wood. Very disappointed! I am in zone 6a.
Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® Reblooming Mountain Hydrangea Hydrangea serrata
Exposure
- Part Sun to Sun
- Sun
Flower Season
- Summer
- Fall
Mature Size
Height: 2' - 3'
Spread: 2' - 3'
Height: 61cm - 91cm
Spread: 61cm - 91cm
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Details
24 - 36 Inches24 - 36 Inches24 - 36 Inches61cm - 91cm61cm - 91cm61cm - 91cmFeatures
When it comes to blooming, Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® hydrangea can't stop, won't stop!
At first glance, it would appear that we decided to introduce this beautiful mountain hydrangea solely for its waterlily-like double florets. But that's only part of the story - it's also a prolific rebloomer. All summer long, it devotes its energies to creating flower buds on its new growth so that you have a constant supply of fabulous blooms from early summer through frost. Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® hydrangea will bloom pink or blue, depending on soil chemistry.
Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha hydrangea is featured in our "Power Puff Girl" magazine ad.
Top reasons to grow Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha hydrangea:
- Creates new flower buds all summer long.
- Double florets look like pink or blue waterlilies.
- Flower buds are more cold-tolerant, which ensures good blooming even in USDA zones 5 and 6.
Continuous Bloom or RebloomerCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:ShortGarden Height:24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cmSpacing:24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cmSpread:24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cmFlower Colors:BlueFlower Colors:PinkFlower Shade:Pink or BlueFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:GreenHabit:MoundedContainer Role:ThrillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Sun to SunLight Requirement:SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBlooms On:New WoodBlooms On:Old WoodBloom Time:Summer through FallHardiness Zones:5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9bWater Category:AverageUses:Border PlantUses:ContainerUses:Cut FlowerUses:Edging PlantUses:LandscapeUses:Mass PlantingUses:Specimen or Focal PointUses Notes:Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha hydrangea works in many landscape applications. We recommend a minimum of 4 hours of sun each day for best flowering and color. In hot climates, shade during the hottest part of the day is imperative.
Maintenance Notes:Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha hydrangea does not need pruning except to remove any dead wood in early spring. You should not cut back or trim this plant at any time of the year, as doing so will remove flower buds. Hydrangeas are shallow-rooted and benefit from a 2-3" layer of shredded bark mulch. If you wish, you may fertilize in early spring, once the ground has thawed, with a granular fertilizer formulated for woody plants, like a rose fertilizer.
This plant does not require deadheading, though if you wish to remove spent flowers, you may - we made a video showing how to do this.
Learn all about lacecap hydrangeas in our complete guide.
Fun Facts:Mountain hydrangeas, Hydrangea serrata, are native to the same areas of Japan as big-leaf hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla. However, big-leaf hydrangeas grow along the mild coast while mountain hydrangeas grow up in the mountains. As a result, they have naturally developed flower buds that are more tolerant to cold conditions than big-leaf hydrangeas, so they bloom more reliably in USDA zones 5 and 6.
Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® Hydrangea serrata 'SMNHSDD' USPP 29,832, Can 6,515 -
20 Reviews
515432312Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
Darcy Thirlwall, Maine, United States, 12 weeks ago
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I planted three Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha hydrangeas in spring 2020. They’re located on a Chicago parkway with not-so-great soil and morning sun with filtered light the rest of the day. I was pleasantly surprised that they bloomed the first year and have thrived ever since. The lacecap flowers are quite beautiful. These will start blooming late June - early July. This is a rebloomer that will continue throughout the entire season. In our soil, their natural flower color is pink but several times I’ve added an acidifier to the surrounding soil to get colors ranging from baby blue to darker blue to lavender, sometimes appearing all on one plant. I’ve had people walking by ask what plant this is. Just lovely!
dakrose, Illinois, United States, 22 weeks ago -
In its sixth year in my garden, Hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff AHA' hasn't missed a year in bloom. I shape it up in March by cutting the longer stems back to around 12" - 18" and that's all it takes to have blooms all summer. I feed it with Osmocote slow release fertilizer in April. It receives afternoon sun for approximately two - three hours each day.
Jean Starr, Indiana, United States, 1 year ago -
My tuff stuff ah-ha is doing great in a freeze proof flower pot. I’ve had it for over 3 years. 7b Morning sun only on a covered porch.
Nicole, North Carolina, United States, 1 year ago -
I grow in England Zone 8a and the older varieties of Hydrangea serrata/macrophylla grow here easily and always bloom no problem. But I can see how this one would be great for a colder climate in the US or Canada as mine suffered a lot of damage from the heatwave of >100°F here in summer 2022. I cut it to the base in late winter to rejuvenate it as it was all uneven from the drought damage and this spring (May 2023) it has grow to about 10” and ever single shoot from the base of the plant has a bloom in bud at the end! Mine bloomed blue with speckles of pink on each lace cap. Definitely grow these varieties if you’re in cold zones!
Kurt Ilko, United Kingdom, 1 year ago -
I live in zone 6, I have one of this plant in a pot and it bloomed beautifully last year. I didn't expect it to come back since I left it in the pot outdoors and it is only hardy to zone 5. Surprisingly, it came back this spring and now I have green leaves on all the branches. I can't wait to see all the flowers this summer.
Linna, Canada, 1 year ago -
I bought 2 of these and living on n zone 5 they should be hardy but they aren’t. This hydrangea is supposed to bloom on old and new wood. Both of mine die back all the way to the ground very year. So I get zero blooms on old wood.
Allen Robertson, Ohio, United States, 1 year ago -
I bought 2 of these and living on n zone 5 they should be hardy but they aren’t. This hydrangea is supposed to bloom on old and new wood. Both of mine die back all the way to the ground very year. So I get zero blooms on old wood.
Allen Robertson, Ohio, United States, 1 year ago -
Happy Hydrangea, happy owner. I purchased two of these plants. Both are planted on the North side of my house. Neither of them had many blooms when I bought them. The plants looked healthy and that's what mattered. Both are thriving and blooming very well. The one with the most shade is the happiest. The leaves are beautiful and the blooms are stunning. The color is a beautiful light blue.
Tim Swearingen, Virginia, United States, 2 years ago -
Purchased a Tuff Stuff Hydrangea in April. There is no growth in 3 months, other than a few very tiny, distorted leaves. The ground cover nearby is taller than this shrub. I believe these were incorrectly sprayed with growth inhibitors at the original nursery. Very disappointing.
Rebecca Gold, Kansas, United States, 2 years ago
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