Hydrangea serrata ‘Beni-gaku’

How about yet another hydrangea? This is a peculiar lacecap hydrangea that changes colors in leaves and flowers through the whole season. The larger flowers open white, then ‘fade’ to pink and finally to a deep red. The leaves start out green, turn to rust, and by fall are purple. The especially interesting thing is that flowers and leaves in all color stages can be found on the same plant. The little fertile flowers are purple in bud, open blue, and fade to beige-pink. Apparently, this is an ancient Japanese variety.

This sometimes listed as Hydrangea serrata ‘Beni-gaku’ and sometimes as H. macrophylla spp. Serata ‘Beni-gaku.”