PeeGee Hydrangea, Deciduous Shrub of The Day

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'

Panicle Hydrangea, Hybrid Hydrangea, PeeGee Hydrangea

Type Shrub, woody plant

Hardy range 3B to 8A

Height 5' to 8' / 1.60m to 2.40m

Spread 5' to 8' / 1.60m to 2.40m

Growth rate Average

Form Vase shaped

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Green

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are very showy, suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Yellow

Culture Notes
Panicle Hydrangea should be grown in full sun or partial shade on well-drained, moist, loamy soil. Plants flower best in sun. The upright, spreading branches often bend down with the weight of the blooms, and the brown, faded blooms should be removed in late September to keep the tree from looking unkempt. If unpruned some people object to the pinkish brown fruits and old flowers which hang on to the tree during the winter. Pruning also is suggested to keep the plant to a consistent, neat shape. Lower branches can be pruned to clean up the bottom of the plant and make it grow into a multi-stemmed tree. Limelight has bright lime-green flowers that add needed color to the late summer gardens.
This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.
Planting and establishing shrubs
The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.
Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

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