Hotter summers may force RHS to move hydrangeas to north of England

Exclusive: British garden staple becomes plant most frequently reported as suffering in heat, charity reports

With their lush foliage and blooms which turn pink, purple or blue depending on the soil, hydrangeas are a firm favourite in Britain.

The shrubs bloom throughout summer and have historically thrived in the mild, damp British climate. But hotter summers and heatwaves such as the one hitting parts of England this week are putting the flower at risk in the south of the country, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has warned.