I'm always drawn to the rich, deep colored pigments and Freudenstin fits the bill! This compact plant has great foliage and strong stems. Color can range from deep pink to deep purple and all the way to blue in acidic soil. This hydrangea was bred by E. Haller in 1960 in Switzerland, the same breeder that developed Konigstein. The historic Schloss Freudenstein is in Freiberg, Germany. The castle was build in 1168 as a fortress to protect the town's silver mines.
