I am looking out as dusk falls at the wonderful lacy flower heads of my Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa’.

I’m trying to think of how to describe its colour, when I find that designer and plants person Dan Pearson has described it as, ‘an otherworldy unnameable violet-blue that hums at dusk’. That’s it! I would also add that sometimes there is a hint of pinky white fluttering through it too.

My shrub is about 2 metres tall and wide at the moment, but it has been smaller some years when the secateurs have come out to accomodate other plants nearby. It’s pretty tough and has sailed through the recent lack of rain whereas other hydrangeas haven’t looked so happy. Mind you, my plant has been in the ground for about 15 years, so it’s had time to put down roots. Any newly planted shrubs have struggled this summer.

Tolerant of a variety of soils, Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa’ is one of the best shrubs for semi shade and even a north facing position. In early summer its leaves are an attractive feature being long, pointed and felty in texture. The flowers open in mid July and are at their peak here in August. After the lace cap flowers fade, they keep a good structural shape well into autumn.

There is an elegance and open habit to this species hydrangea that I admire and wouldn’t be without. It’s also easy to take cuttings from; a job that I’ll be undertaking soon to ensure I’ve got plants to use in new gardens or give to friends.