Hydrangea paniculata, commonly called panicle hydrangea, is a vigorous, upright, rapid-growing, somewhat coarsely textured, deciduous shrub that is native to China and Japan. It typically grows to 8-15’ (less frequently to 25’) tall, and features oval to ovate dark green leaves and upright, sharply-pointed, conical, terminal flower panicles (to 6-8” long) containing both fertile and sterile flowers (mostly non-showy fertile flowers) that bloom from mid-summer into fall.
The genus name Hydrangea comes from hydro meaning "water" and aggression meaning "vessel", about the cup-like capsular fruit.
The specific epithet paniculata refers to the arrangement of the flowers in panicles.
‘Limelight’ is a slightly more compact cultivar that typically grows to 6-8’ tall and as wide. It is noted for producing large, dense, upright, cone-shaped panicles (to 8” across) of mostly sterile flowers that change color on the shrub as they mature. Flowers emerge creamy white, mature to chartreuse-lime, and eventually acquire pink-darkening-to-rose tones before finally fading to beige. As the flower show fades in fall, the oval-to-ovate, serrate, dark green leaves (to 4” long) turn attractive shades of red.
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Hardiness | 6,7,8 |
| Heat Zones | 3,4,5,6,7,8 |
| Climate Zones | 6, 7, 8 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Hydrangeaceae |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer, Fall, Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer |
| Height | 6' - 7' |
| Spread | 6' - 7' |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Soil Type | Acid |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Cutting Garden |
| Planting Place | Beds and Borders |