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.
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.
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.