Lime green panicles open in midsummer on this panicle hydrangea, hold that color for weeks, then shift through bright pink to deep red by fall. Hydrangea paniculata Limelight Prime® 'SMNHPPH' grows 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide in full sun to part sun, hardy from Zone 3 through Zone 8.
It blooms earlier than the original Limelight and stays more compact, with a brighter pink as the flowers age. The dense, upright panicles need no staking and cut well fresh or dried. It was named 2023 Hydrangea of the Year.
Panicle hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata, takes more sun than any other common hydrangea and flowers on new wood from midsummer into fall. Buds form in spring on the current year's growth, so a hard winter or a late frost does not cost it a season of bloom, and soil pH has no effect on the color.
Most panicle hydrangeas open white or green and age to pink or red. That change is driven by cool nights, so northern gardens color up strongly while warmer southern gardens tend to hold cream and soft blush instead. Cut back by about a third in late winter or early spring. Panicle hydrangeas take average soil as long as it drains, and once established they handle dry spells better than the other hydrangea groups.
Full sun gives the strongest stems and heaviest bloom, and growth slows noticeably in part shade. It works as a hedge, a foundation planting, or the middle of a mixed border.
Size at Maturity
Height 4'- 6' Spread 4'- 5'
Growing Zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
Lowest Temperatures -40°F to -30°F
Light Requirements
Full sun to part sun- at least 4 hours direct sun per day
Special Conditions
Seasons of Interest
How to Plant
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