Hydrangea paniculata Strawberry Sundae® ‘Rensun’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, low hedges, mixed borders, and cut flower gardens.
Benefits: A compact panicle hydrangea with full, rounded bloom heads that open creamy white and turn strawberry pink. The smaller size fits beds where larger panicles get too big.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Rounded — compact and full.
Bloom Color: White to Pink
Mature Height: 4–5 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Bloom Season: Midsummer to fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Strawberry-and-cream blooms on a shrub that fits a foundation bed.
Strawberry Sundae® is a compact panicle hydrangea with full, rounded flower heads. They open creamy white in midsummer, pick up pink tones as they age, and deepen to strawberry pink through late summer and fall, so the plant shows a mix of cream and pink at the same time.
At about four to five feet tall and three to four feet wide, it stays well below the size of most panicle hydrangeas. That makes it easy to place under windows, along a walk, or in a low flowering hedge where a six- to eight-foot plant would be too much.
Like other panicle hydrangeas, it blooms on new wood, takes more sun than bigleaf types, and holds its flower heads well when cut, whether fresh in a vase or dried for winter arrangements.
Care
Strawberry Sundae® Panicle Hydrangea Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. More sun brings richer pink color and sturdier stems; in the hottest regions, give it some afternoon shade.
It grows well in average, well-drained garden soil. Bloom color comes from the flowers aging, not from soil pH, so the soil does not need to be adjusted for color.
Water deeply once or twice a week the first season. After that, water during long dry spells, when the leaves begin to droop in the afternoon. Mulch helps keep the soil evenly moist.
Feed with a slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. A light trim, or cutting back by up to one-third, keeps the plant full and well shaped. Because it blooms on new wood, spring pruning does not reduce that summer’s flowers.
Size
What Size is the Strawberry Sundae® Panicle Hydrangea for Sale Online?
Our Strawberry Sundae® 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 Strawberry Sundae® Panicle Hydrangea Grow?
Expect about 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in an upright, rounded shape. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a low hedge or mass planting.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is generally sold as a panicle hydrangea, and you may also see panicle types called peegee hydrangea.
Does soil pH change the flower color?
No. Panicle hydrangeas do not turn blue or pink based on soil pH the way bigleaf hydrangeas do. The shift from cream to pink happens as the blooms age and nights cool, so you get the same color show in nearly any garden soil.
How is it different from Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea?
Strawberry Sundae® is the smaller of the two, staying around four to five feet with full, rounded flower heads. Vanilla Strawberry™ grows six to seven feet with long, cone-shaped blooms that age all the way to red. Choose Strawberry Sundae® for foundation beds and low hedges. Compare both in our Shrubs & Bushes.
Can I grow it as a low hedge?
Yes. Planted about 3 to 4 feet apart, it forms a flowering hedge around four to five feet tall that is in bloom from midsummer into fall. It drops its leaves in winter, so for a hedge that screens year-round or grows taller, see our Privacy Trees & Shrubs.
