Landscape Uses:Container, Seashore, Specimen. Tolerates most soil[200], thriving in a well-drained loamy soil[1], but resenting dryness at the roots[11, 200]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[200], but if it is grown in a low rainfall area then it requires shade at the hottest part of the day[11]. Does well on very acid soils with a pH around 4.5[200]. Tolerates alkaline soils, but it may become chlorotic on shallow soils over chalk[200]. The colour of the flowers reflects the pH of the soil the plant is growing in, the flowers are pink in a neutral to alkaline soil and blue in an acid soil[200]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c when dormant but the young growth in spring can be killed by late frosts. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[182]. Considerable difficulties exist in the nomenclature for this species and H. microphylla. They are treated here in accordance with "Bean's Manual of Trees and Shrubs", though many botanists view H. serrata as no more than a sub-species of H. macrophylla. This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. Special Features: Not North American native, Blooms are very showy.