Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' (2024)

FAQs

Where should I plant my limelight hydrangea? ›

It's hardy to zone 3, drought tolerant, and prefers part sun to sun and good loamy soil. Soil pH does not affect its bloom color. Yet, it's also the most adaptable of all hydrangeas to different soil types.

Generally, Limelight hydrangea is a trouble-free shrub but it can get bud blight, rust, leaf spot, powdery mildew, and bacterial wilt. These fungal diseases are more likely in humid weather and when there is lack of air circulation. The shrub might get aphids and mites but they don't affect the overall plant health.

How far should I space my plants? Limelight Prime gets to be about 4' wide, so you'll want to plant them with their centers 3-4' apart, depending on how quickly you are willing to wait for them to fill in.

'Limelight' is a slightly more compact cultivar that typically grows to 6-8' tall and as wide. It is noted for producing large, dense, upright, cone-shaped panicles (to 8” across) of mostly sterile flowers that change color on the shrub as they mature.

Most of the varieties in Endless Summer will reach 3-4′ wide at maturity. I would give them at last two feet away from the foundation. Or even a little more if you don't want them touching the house. Summer Crush is the most compact, so you can plant that one a little closer.

It can grow like a shrub or in a more tree-like look with pruning, and is the perfect addition to a cutting garden. Like other hydrangeas, the best time to plant a Limelight hydrangea is in fall or early spring, so it has time to take root before the heat of summer.

Pruning promotes growth that maximizes the opportunity for good blooming. A Limelight left to its own devices will have lots of growth on the top that eventually results in leggy and leafless lower branches. Big shrubs do and will grow big.

Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is popular among hydrangea growers for its supposed benefits, from boosting flowering to deterring pests.

All species have different planting recommendations. With the exception of climbing hydrangeas, the best rule of thumb to follow is to space your hydrangeas with a one foot buffer around the width of a mature plant. For example, if your variety will be 5 feet wide at maturity, you should plant them 6 feet apart.

They are shallow-rooted and will benefit from a 2 to 3 inch layer of compost or mulch. Soil pH does not affect bloom color. It can be severely pruned in late winter or spring as it blooms on the current season's new growth, not on the woody stems formed during the previous year.

Can limelight hydrangeas take afternoon sun? ›

This extremely durable, long-lived plant is easy to grow. It likes full sun in cold climates, afternoon shade in warmer ones, but it does require well-drained soils that do not remain soggy for any amount of time. To prune, simply cut back by one-third its total height every spring.

(Limelight hydrangeas do tolerate shade, but they do not bloom well unless they receive at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.)

Panicle hydrangeas don't typically need winter protection to bloom prolifically. Shown here: 'Limelight' Hydrangea paniculata.

To care for limelight hydrangeas, water them 2-3 times a week, or whenever the soil gets dry. A good way to test the soil is to stick your finger 2 inches into the soil to feel if it's damp or dry. After a year, only water them once a week, since limelights need less water as they grow.