This is one of the modern Hydrangea varieties, bred to be compact, low bushes, without compromising the size and beauty of the flowers. ‘Birgit Blue’ grows just 80 centimetres high, and about the same in width, so it fits well with small town gardens and as a container plant it’s ideal.

To get the best out of Hydrangeas they need watering in dry weather. This means they must be watered regularly and thoroughly when grown in pots. But they are worth the effort, as anyone who has seen ‘Birgit Blue’ in a handsome container, brightening up a shady part of the garden will know. A pot of ‘Birgit Blue’, underplanted with white Impatiens and positioned beside a shady doorway makes an enchanting summer feature.

In the garden, Hydrangeas provide a relaxed, romantic look to the garden, putting on an amazing performance while demanding little effort. ‘Birgit Blue’ is a stunner whether planted on its own or combined with other Hydrangeas. It can even be grown as a low hedge, beside a driveway or path, or against a fence. The stems will be bare over winter, but that quiet time is more than made up for by the prolonged summer flowering.

In lightly shaded gardens, much fun can be had by growing pretty, low growing perennials beneath Hydrangea ‘Birgit Blue’. Try the new Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, with its broad, handsome, silvery leaves, Hostas with blue-grey foliage, Heuchera varieties such as ‘Amethyst Myst’ and ‘Prince of Silver’, Tiarella ‘Pink Skyrocket’ silvery foliage Pulmonarias such as ‘Amethyst’ and ‘Beth’s Blue’. For winter and early spring interest, underplant with Hellebores for masses of flowers which will look superb no matter what the weather does.