Hydrangea bretschneideri 'Bougie' - Mongolian hydrangea 'Bougie'

’Bougie’ is an unusual form of the species found at Arboretum Mustila; its long dangling flower clusters have a lot of double flowers in the outer sterile ring. The name ‘Bougie’ is a reference to the vine Bougainville (Bougainvillea), which has similar flowers.

Otherwise ’Bougie’ resembles the other summer hydrangeas but the flowers make it unique, and very closely associated with Mustila. The original shrub grows on the Terassi (Terrace), but younger specimens have been planted near the south-east entrance to the Alppiruusulaakso (Rhododendron Valley). The variety has also appeared in recent years among the selections available from nurseries.