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Hydrangea paniculata /haɪˈdɹeɪnd͡ʒə/

Common name: Panicle hydrangea · Peegee hydrangea · Limelight hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to southern and eastern China, Korea, Japan, and Russia (Sakhalin). It is distinguished by its cone-shaped panicles of white flowers in mid- to late summer, which often age to pink. It is notably cold-hardy and tolerant of pruning, making it one of the most reliable and widely planted hydrangeas in cold climates.

Fun facts

  • Unlike bigleaf hydrangea, its flower color does not change with soil pH; the white blooms simply blush pink as they age.
  • It blooms on new wood, so it can be pruned hard in late winter without losing the year's flowers.
  • The cultivar 'Limelight', with lime-green panicles, won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit and became a landscaping staple.
  • It is the hardiest commonly grown hydrangea, surviving winters down to USDA zone 3.

Care summary

Sun Full sun to partial shade
Water Moderate; regular water while establishing
Soil Fertile, moist, well-drained; tolerates most pH levels
Hardiness Zones 3–8
Mature height About 200–500 cm (7–16 ft)
Pet safe No — toxic to cats and dogs if ingested
Difficulty Easy
Propagation Softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer root well. Take a 10 cm cutting below a node, strip the lower leaves, and place in moist, gritty compost with humidity until roots form. It can also be layered by pegging a low branch to the ground.

Make your own Panicle hydrangea · Peegee hydrangea · Limelight hydrangea profile

Common problems

    • Improve air circulation around plants
    • Water at the base, not overhead
    • Remove and destroy affected leaves
    • Cover shrubs when frost is forecast
    • Delay pruning until growth starts
    • Water deeply in dry weather
    • Mulch to keep roots cool and moist
    • Prune only immediately after flowering
    • Avoid cutting stems in late summer