This new selection was found and brought to us by Frederick H. Ray, a former horticulture professor at Delaware Valley College in Pennsylvania. Rick selected Haas’ Halo from a batch of seedlings given to him by Joan Haas. He selected this plant out of the batch because it has strong, sturdy, erect stems, deep bluish-green, glossy foliage, and huge white lace-cap flowers. Each bloom is up to 14” in diameter.

These are some of the loveliest dried flowers I’ve seen in a long time. Haas Halo is one smooth hydrangea that will not wilt on the first dry day of summer. It can handle massive droughts and a long, hot summer full of heat and humidity. It is beautiful planted as a specimen and just as lovely en masse along a woodland edge. This fantastic, strong new selection would prefer morning sun, but if it’s got enough water, it can handle anything you give it. Bring on the heat for this native beauty.