Hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea paniculata
Spectacular, elongated conical flower clusters begin blooming in July in lime, red, or pink and can last well into Fall. Depending upon the variety, the blooms can change color over the season – some from white to green to a dusty pink as they mature. They are prized in both cut flower as well in dried arrangements.
Typically Hydrangea p. grows as a large, multi-stemmed woody deciduous shrub or small tree. The leaves are medium to dark green with serrated (toothed) edges. It can make a stunning hedge and is lovely as a specimen in Cottage, English, mixed border, informal and formal gardens as well as in containers. The leaves turn a lovely shades of red and burgundy for a beautiful fall display. The foliage can add color to a winter garden. They attract pollinators. Deer and rabbits may be attracted to them.
Hydrangea p. trained as a “tree”
Culture: Plant in part shade. They appreciate some protection from hot afternoon sun. Feed annually in the spring with an acid fertilizer. They will respond positively to a layer of mulch – ensure it does not come in direct contact with the stems. Once established (after a year), watering deeply twice a month in our cooler micro-climates is typically sufficient. In hotter micro climates weekly watering may be needed. Hydrangea paniculatas are not as fussy about pruning as other species. Simply prune in winter or spring – either by removing 1/3 of the plant’s mass or top as developing buds emerge. They form their flower buds in spring at the tips of the new growth (new wood) so late spring pruning may reduce bloom count. It is native to eastern Asia, particularly China, Korea and Japan.
Some of our favorite varieties:
‘Limelight’: 6-8’. The abundant blooms can reach 6-12” in length. The color ranges from lime-green to creamy white, then age to dusty pink and finally to beige.
‘Phantom”: 6-6’. Dense, conical flowers up to 15” in length. They open creamy-white to lime green and mature to a dusty pink as fall approaches.
‘Limelight Prime’: 4-6’. It blooms earlier and has a more compact growth habit than ‘Limelight’ and has lime-green flowers that change to soft pink in mid summer to dark pink later in the season.
‘Little Lime’: 3-5’. Compact, bushy shrub with 5” blossoms. The blossoms change from lime-green to creamy white and then dusty pink later in the season.
‘White Wedding’. 4-6’. Compact, upright shrub with arching growth habit with 4-6” flower clusters. Repeat blooms.