British hydrangea specialist Haworth-Booth considered this to be a reversion of the ancient Chinese cultivar known in the West as Joseph Banks which we believe may be identical with Otaksa Monstrosa. Large lacecap flowers which are white with pale pink or pale blue fertile flowers, the sterile blossoms also tinting blue or pink with maturity. A delicate effect is achieved in contrast with the leathery foliage and very strong habit of growth. Haworth-Booth tested his idea that this was a wild Japanese species by importing the coastal Japanese species for comparison. He believed this to be a separate species which he called Hydrangea maritima. He may have been the only Westerner to do so until very recently. Only for mild winter gardens. Description Courtesy of Vintage Gardens.