I found these at the visitor's center in Philadelphia. Has anyone ever seen a rhododendron with multiple colors?

Dena H
by Dena H
  82 answers
  • Jane T Jane T on May 23, 2012
    That's a hydrangea.
  • Sonia T Sonia T on May 23, 2012
    they are very common in KY. I think it has to do with the soil acidity and lime.
  • Patty S Patty S on May 23, 2012
    These are not rhododendron...they are hydrangeas.
  • Denise F Denise F on May 23, 2012
    love them
  • ours are like that every year. I do not do much to the soil other then water it. However Sonia is correct. Changing the acidity of the soil will change the color of the blooms.
  • Patty S Patty S on May 23, 2012
    And yes, Sonia T, they are common and it does have to do with the soil. Beautiful!!! They are my favorite plant, I have 6 varieties in my yard.
  • Dena H Dena H on May 23, 2012
    I need a clarification about a response How do you change the acidity of the soil? I remember my grandmother once telling me to plant a penny with some plant to change its color. Is that true?
  • Dena H Dena H on May 23, 2012
    I don't know why I always call hydrangeas rhododendron. *shrug*
  • Melissa K Melissa K on May 23, 2012
    I am going to post the photos of my front yard hydrangeas. I have about 30 all from the same original bush about 25 years ago. The ones in the front yard are quite confused about their soil...they are multi-colored like the ones you posted. My husband thinks this is a phenomena, but I think they are reacting to the coffee grounds they get every week.
  • Lisa D Lisa D on May 23, 2012
    It's a Hydrangeas and as the flowers mature they change to different colors and hues !
  • Nancy Rhodes C Nancy Rhodes C on May 23, 2012
    Yes, these are Hydrangeas. I wrote down someplace what will turn them all blue. Will post it if I remember.
  • Connie H Connie H on May 23, 2012
    those are gorgeous!
  • There is plant food that you can purchase at most garden centers. Tell them the color of the blooms you want and they will provide you with the correct chemicals that will make it happen.
  • Victoria S Victoria S on May 23, 2012
    they just mixed the seedlings
  • Dena H Dena H on May 23, 2012
    Thank you all. Nancy Rhodes C and Melissa K: I look forward to hearing from you both with suggestions on how to change the colors.
  • PennyandRandy C PennyandRandy C on May 23, 2012
    It's a hydrangea, not a rhododendron.
  • I normally see them all blue. Sometimes i see them the pink tone, but have never seen mixed. Acid soils make the blue
  • Susan S Susan S on May 23, 2012
    I think it's gorgeous just the way it is!! Are you trying to turn it all one color? You could just google it and find out how to make it be pink or blue.
  • Margaret M Margaret M on May 23, 2012
    Pretty sure these are Hydrangeas and the colors have something to do with the acid in the soil. Beautiful.
  • Charmaine H Charmaine H on May 23, 2012
    You are correct, Margaret, these are Hydrangeas, I am from FL and they are in almost every yard in the area that I live in.
  • Becky H Becky H on May 23, 2012
    Alkaline soil will offer pink blooms; acid soil produces the blue blooms.
  • Pam Pam on May 24, 2012
    You are correct Becky.
  • Nichole S Nichole S on May 24, 2012
    Pennies will make them blue
  • Kathleen F Kathleen F on May 24, 2012
    This is a particular variety of hydrangea that shows the variations of coloring (unlike "Nikko Blue" which is pretty much just tones of blue). I think it used to be available through Spring Hill Nurseries, but I don't remember the name, sorry.
  • Dena H Dena H on May 24, 2012
    Thank you Becky H and Nichole S!
  • Kathy R Kathy R on May 24, 2012
    mine go from white to pink, lavender then blue. Same plant.
  • Cynthia R Cynthia R on May 24, 2012
    I lived in Milford, Delaware and I saw rhododrendrons always in mixed colors, I just thought that was normal, and they are beautiful!
  • Nina D Nina D on May 24, 2012
    Those are hydrangea.
  • Nancy Rhodes C Nancy Rhodes C on May 24, 2012
    If you would like to turn them all blue, use Aluminum Sulfate. Google it for instructions because I have not used it on my purple Hydrangeas as I had wanted them all blue in the beginning. Sort of like the 3 or 4 purple ones now with only only one blue. These mixed colors on one plant are pretty too. Fascinating.
  • Dena H Dena H on May 24, 2012
    Thank you so much, Nancy Rhodes C. I've been doing some research and I'm finding some great ideas online. Can't wait to plant my first Hydrangeas!
  • Lorraine M Lorraine M on May 24, 2012
    I believe those are "Endless Summer" Hydrangas. I have several bordering a driveway. The soil acidity makes the difference in color, but this variety just blooms like that.
  • Dena H Dena H on May 24, 2012
    thanks all. I have everything I need now.
  • Jim Ginas Jim Ginas on May 24, 2012
    YES, my neighbor and I'm not sure HOW she said she was doing it, BUT she said she was changing the purple flower to all pink by changing the acidity of the soil? Really nice though. Do they flower all summer long, thru fall? Perenials?
  • I love hydrangeas and wrote an article about how to grow, prune, fertilise, change the colour of them, make your cut flowers last longer + more, with videos and tips. You might find this helpful to answer some of the questions raised @ http://themicrogardener.com/how-to-grow-hydrangeas/
  • Dena H Dena H on May 24, 2012
    Anne G from Chicago, you are the best!!! I bookmarked your article and will be following you around from now on. Not in a freakish, stalker-like way, of course. ;-) Thank you so much for the information!!!
  • Coraetta k Coraetta k on May 24, 2012
    This is a hydrangea and appears that the soil may be both the type that causes pink and blue blossoms. You may purchase a red one for instance and depending on the ph of the soil it could turn out to be blue. Absolutely beautiful.
  • Ann W Ann W on May 24, 2012
    YUP MY GEAT GRANDMOTHER'S MANY YEARS AGO
  • Jane H Jane H on May 24, 2012
    Hydrangia - different acidic levels change colors of blooms
  • Mel R Mel R on May 24, 2012
    Yupper's, these are "Hydrangia's".. :) .. They do need acid in the soil for these beautiful colors!! .. They say that planting these near Pine Tree's is good for the soil & keeps their color going... I Love-Ummm!! .. :)
  • Dena H Dena H on May 24, 2012
    this was the answer...
  • Robin W Robin W on May 24, 2012
    That's not a Rhododendron, it's a Hydrangea.
  • Gigi Moore Gigi Moore on May 24, 2012
    It is Hydranga and yes they do like a asid soil conditions if not enough they won't bloom with the blue colors....just from my experance.
  • Debi M Debi M on May 24, 2012
    Those are beautiful, so colorful, never seen one bush w/so many colors before
  • PK H PK H on May 24, 2012
    Looks like a hybrid they call Endless Summer. I have two of them and they are awesome. They grow slow though. The colors in the blooms can be changed by amending the soils acidity!
  • Maggie D Maggie D on May 24, 2012
    yes I've seen those before
  • Janet C Janet C on May 24, 2012
    Actually thee are Hydrangeas... I have never seen that... I know that certain things added to the soil can cause the flowers to change colors.
  • Shannon J Shannon J on May 25, 2012
    just bought four of them, it says u can change the color of the plant . didnt know u can change one plant different colors though
  • Ronald W Ronald W on May 25, 2012
    These are Hydrangeas not rhododendron. They vary in color because the soil is both acid and alkaline where individual roots are pulling their energy. Perhaps building debris was left in the soil creating this situation. Perhaps natural limestone is present in the soil. Perhaps someone wanted blue flowers and added sulfur to the soil and did not spread the powder uniformly. In any case, this situation is more common than you think.
  • Sandra L Sandra L on May 25, 2012
    Have them at my place. I love them. Just beautiful!
  • Pat B Pat B on May 25, 2012
    it is endless summer hydrangas. I am trying to get a combination of oak leaf and the different varieties of hydragas started in my garden
  • Karen H Karen H on May 25, 2012
    Yeah, it's definitely a hydrangea. The variation in color is dependent on whether the soil is acid or alkaline. But Lorraine is right, there are some varieties that bloom multi-colored like this, but there are others that bloom in a single color like white, blue, cream, and a beautiful red. They are a favorite old time flower.
  • Tammy I Tammy I on May 25, 2012
    I also think those are Endless Summer Hydrangeas. They bloom like this. My grandmother had them in her yard and they were one of my favorites.
  • Jim Ginas Jim Ginas on May 25, 2012
    Are they perrenials or do you have to buy and plant them every year? how much water do they need?
  • Corie E Corie E on May 25, 2012
    These look like Hydrangea...
  • Melanie P Melanie P on May 26, 2012
    yup they are hydrangeas
  • Dena H Dena H on May 26, 2012
    Jim G: Some gave me this link. It's everything you need. I love it! http://themicrogardener.com/how-to-grow-hydrangeas/#
  • Ronald W Ronald W on May 26, 2012
    Yes Jim G Hydrangea macrophylla (mophead hydrangea) are perennial shrubs, deciduous in your area and semi-evergreen here in Central Florida. They vary in height according to variety, usually under 4 feet. They like moist soil that is well drained and grow best if protected from the hot afternoon sun. They bloom on last years wood, so don't cut them to the ground each year. Trim only dead or damaged branches and trim off old flower heads. Light trimming of height to keep them inbounds will not prevent them from blooming.
  • Jim Ginas Jim Ginas on May 26, 2012
    @ Ronald: thank you. very helpful, cause we do have areas of the yard that get sun all day, and in the summer, it is very hot! moist: soil
  • Victoria S Victoria S on May 26, 2012
    i did these with packets of seeds,now i have multiple colors, no akaline soil,just miracle grow,you can inbreed them to mixed colors!
  • Victoria S Victoria S on May 26, 2012
    and im south florida
  • Connie H Connie H on May 27, 2012
    Dena H thanks for the video! Very informing.
  • Dena H Dena H on May 27, 2012
    To Connie H (Wimauma, FL): The article was actually given to me by the lady who wrote it...Anne G (Chicago, IL). The videos were at the bottom of the article. Thanks again, Anne G!
  • Connie H Connie H on May 28, 2012
    Dena H...oh that was nice, and thanks for passing it along. I watch that guy sometimes on public channel when I had t.v. =>
  • Janice H Janice H on Jul 02, 2012
    My Hydrangea is like this with multi colors, pink, blue, purple all on same bush, Beautiful...I am in south central Alabama
  • Jim Ginas Jim Ginas on Jul 02, 2012
    @ Dena H: thank you for the link! I just saw the post now. My neighbors all are dying, so I'll read and see what might be causing it. Thanks again.
  • Nancy Rhodes C Nancy Rhodes C on Jul 03, 2012
    Good page for my notebook as I have 9 Hydrangeas. Thanks Dena H.
  • Dena H Dena H on Jul 03, 2012
    To Jim G of Suffolk, VA; Janice H of AL; Connie H of FL; and Nancy Rhodes C of Bessemer, AL: Thank you all for your comments. I'm glad the link has been so helpful to so many. It was very kind of Anne G (the author) to allow me to pass it along. Have a wonderful 4th!
  • PK H PK H on Jul 03, 2012
    Hydrangea don't tolerate dry heat. They love moisture and some shade. What ever you do don't prune cause they bloom on old wood. This variety is Endless Summer and they grow slow.
  • Melindateal.mt Melindateal.mt on Jun 21, 2015
    Yepper you have a hydrangea there. Colors varey on the old style blans from blue to pink according to how alkaline or acidic the soil ph is.
  • BAR1900677 BAR1900677 on Jul 03, 2015
    THEY CHANGE COLOR IN THE FALL
  • Adele Byron Adele Byron on May 10, 2016
    Place some old iron around the base of the tree, the iron changes the plant from purple to blue with pink hues. I have placed two bed knobs at the base of the tree.
  • Cindi Cindi on May 10, 2016
    I love Hydrangea, especially when they have the blue and pink, I've even seen some that are almost purple. I don't garden so don't know much about plants in general, only the ones I like, and this one tops my list. It's gorgeous.
  • Sue Sue on Jun 30, 2016
    Look on the internet for White Flower farm. They have a hydrangea called a strawberry sundae. And oh my goodness it is beautiful! I have one in my yard and it changes color 3 times during it growing season. People stop and ask where to buy one. :)
  • Sue Kiene Sue Kiene on Sep 26, 2016
    yes I had one at my old house
  • Denise Perez Denise Perez on Sep 28, 2016
    We call them hydrangea. I had seen one in those colors outside a greenhouse I found someone to help me (manager) I said I want a plant with those pinks, blues, purple etc. He chuckled and said their summer workers water all over the plant and the iron powder they use to turn the flowers blue get's moved all over so that is why there are so many different colors...
  • Sandy Caudill Mattox Sandy Caudill Mattox on Oct 14, 2016
    High acid soils make the flowers blue, while basic soils turn the flowers pink.
  • Norma Norma on Oct 14, 2016
    Beautiful. Those are hydrangea's. I know they are pink when in alkaline soil and blue when acidic, but I've never seen both on one bush. Amazing. They have rebloomers too. I'd ask a reputable nursery -- in NE Ohio that would be Petittes. Post what you find.
  • Sandy Beck Sandy Beck on Oct 21, 2016
    Yes, I have one and my friend got it from a local nursery in Eastern Washington.
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Mar 22, 2022

    That is not a rhododendron, it is a hydrangea.

  • Cristine Schwartzberg Cristine Schwartzberg on Mar 23, 2022

    My grandfather grew hydrangeas in RI. He would plan two bushes to intertwine. He would add vinegar to one bush's soil to change the flowers to pink and add baking soda to the other flower's soil to change its flowers to blue. Have fun!



  • Betsy Betsy on Sep 06, 2023

    Hi Dena: Yes, yes I have. Depending on the soil, you can get loads of different colours. Coffee grounds will make them a vibrant blue. Here's a site that tells about making them different colours:


    Make Your Hydrangeas Change Color With This Easy Gardening Tip - Hydrangeas pH Levels (housebeautiful.com)

  • Hazel Hazel on Sep 07, 2023

    certainly is a hydrangea, they are everywhere in uk