Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Cityline Paris Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Paris Rapa').
More about mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris'
About Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris'
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Paris Rapa' · also called Cityline Paris Hydrangea · flowering
'Cityline Paris' is a compact dwarf mophead hydrangea bred for patios and small borders, carrying large rounded heads that open bright pink to red and age to attractive green. Naturally tidy at under a metre, disease-resistant and free-flowering, it wants moist, rich soil, dappled light and shelter from harsh afternoon sun.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — No flowers after pruning: Mopheads bloom mainly on old wood; cutting back hard in spring or winter dieback removes the flower buds. Prune only to deadhead and shape just after flowering.
The reasons mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' and get the feeding right with the mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' flower?
Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' bloom?
Give mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' normally bloom?
Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' flowering?
Feeding mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 407 bloom guides in the Growli library