Hydrangeas have become very popular in recent years, busy gardeners appreciating how fantastic they are for a long lasting show of summer flowers and how easy they are to grow. ‘Trophy’ is a fascinating and very beautiful new variety, with big rounded heads of double white flowers. Discovered by Tony Owens in his Coromandel garden, it looks set to become a sought-after variety throughout the gardening world. Because the flowers of white hydrangeas aren’t affected by the acidity or pH of the soil their flower colour doesn’t vary, whereas pink and blue hydrangeas will often have a shift of flower colour due to the soil conditions.

Mingle ‘Trophy’ with other hydrangeas, or with the evergreen hydrangea Dichroa ‘Blue Sapphires’. It likes dappled shade and a reasonably moist soil, as do hostas - surround it with grey foliage hostas for a stunning effect, or with cream and green variegated foliage hostas for a sparkling look in shade. Silvery pulmonarias look good with Hydrangea ‘Trophy’ too, as do cream or red impatiens in summer. Adventurous gardeners might like to plant Chatham Island forget-me-nots, Myosotidium hortensia, beneath Hydrangea ‘Trophy’. The flowers of the Chatham Island forget-me-nots will be finished by the time those of Hydrangea ‘Trophy’ begin their summer-long display, but the big, bold, shiny dark green foliage of this native plant is spectacular. Add lots of good compost to the soil at planting time to get the Chatham Island forget-me-nots off to a good start.