Plants: Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' - panicle hydrangea

Eager for something new and hardy? Look no more. This hydrangea is a celebrity of the last few years with awards and praise from every possible corner of the world (can a globe have corners??). Even the one who always disliked hydrangeas look at this novelty with interest when I show them pictures of the fresh flowers of August and then the same flowers after they change colour in September. What is all this fuss about? A new hardy hydrangea called Limelight.

Limelight® is a panicle type hydrangea, not a mop-head one with big leaves and large flowers heads. Well, how to explain then that this new variety has even bigger flowers? Never mind, let’s just call them XXL size. The panicles are upto 30 cm long, fat blossoms of greenish-white colour when they come out in early August, changing to almost white after about 2-3 weeks and turning clear pink in September. The shade of pink is not a fading one, but fresh pink as if it was meant to be pink from the very beginning. Ovate, pointed leaves are dark green.

The most beautiful flowers I saw in Germany where they highlighted formal hedges or were mixed with other shrubs in a mixed border. Incredible amount of XXL sized flowers appear on a plant that grows 1.5-2m high and are resistant to wind, full sun and rain. And that is a combination making it an absolute winner among late summer flowering shrubs. Another important feature is that it flowers on new shoots so you can prune or trim it early in the season to achieve a denser plant or a better shape without a risk of losing flowers. Last but not least let’s spend a few words on hardiness: -37°C is the lowest temperature we found on web forums from all over the world. Isn’t that amazing?

It will grow in almost any soil type, preferably humus-rich, moist soil that will not too heavy or shallow. You can plant it almost anywhere as it takes sun or shade. Make it a specimen plant or use it in a hedge, whatever suits you best. Hardy to min. -37°C (USDA zone 3b).

Size/type: medium-sized shrub
Usual height: 1.5-2m
Leaves: deciduous broadleaf
Colour of leaves: green
Flowers: showy
Colour of flowers: white
Blooming time: august - september
Location: full sun to shade
Usda zone (lowest): 4 (down to -34°c)
Belongs to categories: deciduous broadleaf, summer blooms