Introducing Magic Pillow: A Compact Hydrangea for Shade
Peter Dowdall shines a light on a relatively new introduction to the hydrangea family: Magic Pillow. This plant isn’t a tall border f fvigor; instead, it grows as a low, gentle mound about 50 cm high and up to a metre wide when mature. Described by nurseries as a groundcover hydrangea, it’s best understood as a versatile, compact cultivar that thrives in shady corners and even in large containers. The key takeaway is growth habit: it’s a “pillow” of leafy, lacecap blooms, designed to brighten shaded spaces without overwhelming them.
Care Requirements: Moisture, Soil, and Location
Like all hydrangeas, Magic Pillow demands reliable moisture. The plant will flower best and keep leaves from browning if the soil remains consistently moist but well-drained. In dry or poor soils, it may struggle to reach its full potential. The good news is that it suits a range of pH levels, but the flower color will respond to the soil’s acidity: blue blooms in acid soils and pink blooms in alkaline or limey soils.
Container and Field Planting
Because of its compact habit, Magic Pillow is an excellent choice for containers. A large pot filled with rich compost, kept evenly moist, will support a healthy plant and keep it bright in a shady corner for months. Remember that pots dry out much faster than garden beds, so regular watering and a surface mulch are essential to maintain vitality.
Design Ideas: How to Plant and Partner Magic Pillow
Visualize a “pillow” of hydrangea in front, with taller ferns providing a soft, feathery backdrop. To add movement and lightness, incorporate grasses such as Hakonechloa or Carex in front. For seasonal color, plant spring bulbs—daffodils or alliums—among the hydrangea so you enjoy color before the leaves emerge fully.
Brunnera, with its mottled leaves and blue flowers, can bloom before Magic Pillow and prefers similar conditions. This makes Brunnera a good companion to extend color and interest in a shaded garden area for longer periods.
Seasonal Interest: Summer Blooms and Autumn Foliage
Magic Pillow delivers masses of pastel lacecap blooms from July onward, adding reliable summer color to shade. As the flowering begins to fade, the plant transitions into a second season of interest. The foliage transforms into rich autumn tones, shifting from fresh green to reds and deep purples that glow in lower late-season light. This natural progression means your garden experiences ongoing color, even after the lacecaps fade, extending its value well into late autumn when many shrubs have already stopped flowering.
Why Try Something New?
Magic Pillow is brand-new to nurseries in the last couple of seasons and has only recently appeared in garden centres. That means it lacks decades of proven performance in every soil and climate, but it also brings a sense of excitement: a fresh plant that isn’t overused and offers something different. Plant it now and you’ll become part of the story as it settles in and reveals its full potential.
Final Thoughts: A Garden Favorite in the Making
For growers and garden lovers who value shade, ease, and year-long interest, Magic Pillow promises a practical yet beautiful option. It stays close to the ground, fills spaces with summer lacecaps, and closes the season with color-rich foliage. If the hype holds true, this hydrangea could become a reliable anchor for shady beds and containers alike, proving that shade-friendly plants can be as dynamic and rewarding as their sun-loving counterparts.
