Oooooh! That looks like it was worth the wait!

Awesome! Does it bloom on new wood?

Looks like the love child between Ageratum and Hydrangea, lol. Very cool ;-)
CMK

I like it! I doubt it would bloom in my zone due to bud kill overwinter. Sigh.

Christin I think it's one that blooms on old wood, I have never pruned it but it's getting pretty rangy so maybe I'll try cutting one branch back once it's finished flowering. I first saw this hydrangea in the U.B.C. Botanical Garden back in the 80's, now that I think of it perhaps it wasn't given to me, I might have bought a rooted cutting at one of the Mother's Day plant sales they held each year. This is where I bought my first Cardiocrinum, long before they were offered in commerce. I also bought a Dichroa febrifuga here as a rooted cutting, not really hardy for me out in the open garden, after a couple of years I lost it. I'm looking for another one as I think I'd have better luck growing it in my garden room. Alas, I haven't been able to find one locally.

Annette

Hydrangea aspera is only hardy to zone 6. And it blooms on old wood, like most macs. Tends to be a big, rangy shrub to go along with that big, felted foliage :-) The one at the Rhododendron Species Garden here is at least 15' tall!

This is one of my favorite hydrangeas, not only for the foliage effect but because the flower color is nearly iridescent. Unfortunately my current garden is too sunny and too small to accommodate but I had a lovely one at my old garden. Annette, yours will just get better and better.