Overview
Uses: Flowering hedges, specimen plantings, large borders, mass plantings, and cut flower gardens.
Benefits: The classic panicle hydrangea. Big, football-shaped lime-green blooms age to white and then pink and burgundy tones in fall. Blooms on new wood, so it flowers every year even after cold winters, and it handles more sun than bigleaf hydrangeas.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Rounded — full, sturdy shrub.
Bloom Color: Lime Green to White to Pink
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 6–8 feet
Mature Width: 6–8 feet
Bloom Season: Midsummer to fall
Growth Rate: Fast
Summary
The lime-green hydrangea that made panicle hydrangeas a garden staple.
Limelight is one of the most widely planted flowering shrubs in North America. In midsummer it produces big, football-shaped flower heads in a cool lime green that stands out against the green leaves. As summer goes on the blooms brighten to creamy white, and in fall they take on pink and burgundy tones before drying in place for winter.
It grows quickly to about six to eight feet tall and wide, with strong stems that hold the large blooms upright. That size makes it a natural choice for a flowering hedge, a summer screen along a property line, or a single specimen anchoring a large bed.
Because it blooms on new wood, it flowers every year even after very cold winters, and it takes more sun than bigleaf hydrangeas. The flower heads are a favorite for cutting fresh and for drying.
Care
Limelight Panicle Hydrangea Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Full sun gives the strongest stems and the most flowers; in the hottest regions, some afternoon shade keeps the blooms looking fresh.
It grows well in most average, well-drained soils. Flower color does not depend on soil pH, so the soil does not need adjusting for color.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. Established plants need water only during extended dry spells, when the leaves droop in the afternoon. Mulch helps hold moisture.
Feed with a slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Prune in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Cutting the stems back by about one-third each year encourages thick, sturdy stems and helps keep the plant at the size you want. Since it blooms on new wood, spring pruning does not reduce that summer’s flowers.
Size
What Size is the Limelight Panicle Hydrangea for Sale Online?
Our Limelight Panicle Hydrangea ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Limelight Panicle Hydrangea Grow?
Expect about 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide at maturity, in a full, upright, rounded shape. Space plants about 5 to 6 feet apart for a flowering hedge.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Limelight Panicle Hydrangea?
The botanical name is Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is usually called panicle hydrangea, and panicle types are also sold under the older name peegee hydrangea.
How is it different from Little Lime®?
Little Lime® has the same lime-green flowers and the same color change through fall, on a much smaller plant of about three to five feet. Limelight is the full-size version at six to eight feet. Pick Limelight for hedges, screens, and large beds, and Little Lime® for foundations and containers. Compare both in our Shrubs & Bushes.
Can I use it as a privacy hedge?
Yes, as a summer screen. Planted about 5 to 6 feet apart, Limelight forms a dense flowering hedge six to eight feet tall from late spring through fall. It drops its leaves in winter, so pair it with evergreens where you need year-round privacy. See more options in our Privacy Trees & Shrubs.
