‘Limelight’ hydrangea at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC

‘Little Quick Fire’ hydrangea

Beautiful panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are among the best hydrangea choices for the summer garden (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8).  Flowers of some cultivars age gracefully with floral heads turning lightly pink. They are perfect for use in containers or in groupings or masses, shrub borders, hedges, and screens. Panicle hydrangeas are suitable as fresh cut or dried flowers.

Limelight® hydrangea is the current standard-bearer among panicle hydrangeas with huge 6 – 8 (some to 12) inches chartreuse (off white) flower heads. Limelight grows more compact  compared to the species @ 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. Its yellow fall leaf color generally does not stand out.

Plants grow from 3 – 10 feet high depending on the variety chosen. For best flowering grow panicle hydrangeas in full sun to light shade and in moist well-drained soil. Feed hydrangeas in early spring with a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote™ or Nutrikote™.  Keep hydrangeas mulched during the hot dry portion of spring and summer. Shrubs bloom on new wood in summer, and are pruned to desired size and shape in early spring.

For smaller landscapes, choose from any of these smaller cultivars:

Bobo® hydrangea – fluffy, creamy floral spikes, that turn to deep pink with red highlights, on sturdy red stems. Earlier blooming Bobo opens 1-2 weeks before many H. paniculata varieties start blooming. Bobo grow 3–5 feet tall, and is a good option in small gardens and growing in large containers.

Little Lime® hydrangea – dwarf version of Limelight® grows 5-6 feet tall and wide and boasts creamy florets that age to rosy pink.

Little Quick Fire® hydrangea – smaller version of Quick Fire® @ 3-5 feet tall and to 2-4 feet wide. It blooms early in upright panicles. Panicles emerge white, change to pink, and mature reddish-purple by late summer.

Little Lamb® hydrangea – downsized version of H. paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ @ 6-8 feet tall and wide. Dense, cone-shaped panicles of mostly sterile, small white flowers. Panicles stand upright on stiff sturdy stems. Smaller, fluffy, fertile florets lie beneath showier sterile florets.