Purple rocks!

For a long time, smooth hydrangeas, or Hydrangea arborescens, came in any color you wanted.

As long as it was white.

And then, in 2010, the first-ever pink flowered smooth hydrangea was introduced. We named it Invincibelle Spirit® because it honored the spirit of women who battle breast cancer, and it raised much-needed funds for breast cancer research. In 2015 we introduced the improved version of this hydrangea, called Invincibelle Spirit® II. But the mission was the same, $1 was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) for every Invincibelle Spirit® II hydrangea sold.

Now we have a wide selection of pink-flowered smooth hydrangeas, having added Invincibelle® Ruby, Invincibelle® Lace, and Invincibelle Mini Mauvette® to the mix.

The Moody Hues

I have to say, I kind of like the moody hues of Invincibelle Mini Mauvette®. It’s a petite selection (2.5-3′ tall/wide) that pushes into new color territory with abundant flowers in a rich mauve-purple. The purple tones are most apparent in the buds, but the flowers have a more violet hue than the other pink varieties. The flowers age to a very attractive green and pink, too, as shown above.

Rest assured that while Mini Mauvette® may have unusual color, it has the same easy growth and reliable flowers as the other Invincibelle® hydrangeas. Its foliage is also worth noting. Leaves are thick, dark green, and deeply appressed with strongly serrated margins. They are the perfect backdrop for the stunning mauve mophead flowers.

Invincibelle Mini Mauvette® hydrangea is hardy to USDA Zone 3. It likes full sun, where it will have the best flowering and richest flower color. It will grow in partial shade, especially in milder locations, but we really recommend full sun for northern climates.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is breast cancer awareness month. So to increase awareness, here are some fast facts about breast cancer from the CDC website:

• Each year in the United States, about 264,000 women get breast cancer, and 42,000 women die from the disease.
• Although women are most often diagnosed with breast cancer, about 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is found in a man.
• Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older, but breast cancer also affects younger women.
• Finding breast cancer early, when it’s easiest to treat, is your best survival tool. Sometimes breast cancer has no symptoms – not even a lump. Screening is important. If you have trouble paying, CDC offers free or low-cost screenings to women who qualify.

How can you help?

Chances are you know someone who has had breast cancer, or you’ve battled it yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to help. That’s where the Invincibelle® Spirit II hydrangea comes in. Although $1 may not seem like a lot, we’ve raised over a million dollars for breast cancer research through sales of this pretty pink hydrangea.

There are other products that support the work that The Breast Cancer Research Foundation does as well. I encourage you to check them out. Shop pink today.