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Last week, we explored the category of bigleaf hydrangeas, with a focus on the many compact varieties suitable for small yards.
Published Aug 15, 2025 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 2 minute read
Bobo hydrangeas are shown at the corner of Lakeshore and Murphy streets in Sarnia. (John DeGroot photo) HandoutArticle content
Last week, we explored the category of bigleaf hydrangeas, with a focus on the many compact varieties suitable for small yards.
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Some have an ultimate size of only 50 to 60 centimetres, while others will achieve a metre or more.
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Panicle hydrangeas, sometimes called PeeGee hydrangeas, are more familiar, and will probably remind us of the old-fashioned white hydrangeas grandma grew.
Their flowers, big, bold and showier than their bigleaf cousins, are mostly white, with many varieties turning shades of red as the season progresses.
Panicle hydrangeas are tough plants that can withstand cold, heat, drought and poor soil. They will always perform, producing oversized blooms often so robust they cover the entire plant, hiding all stems and leaves.
Like all hydrangeas, panicles will tolerate shade, but produce best blooms if planted in half to full sun. The east, west or south sides of the house are ideal, while the shaded north side will be fine if there are no trees above casting more shade.
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The wonderful thing about panicle hydrangeas is they are easy to prune.
They bloom on the current year’s growth, so cut back anytime in late fall, after flowers are done blooming, or in spring. If you prune in mid-summer, you’ll forfeit the season’s flowers.
Pruning is not necessary, but will help keep the plant in shape with renewed vigour. Panicle hydrangeas make great cut flowers for dried fall or Christmas arrangements.
Limelight hydrangea is the undisputed leader in the panicle hydrangea family. Its cone-shaped flowers are huge, opening in lime-green colour and quickly turning pure white.
Later in fall, flowers take on red, pink and burgundy hues. Limelight tolerates dry soil, but does not enjoy wet soil.
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When mature, it grows to a handsome two metres or more, making it a good background plant in a shrub border.
For those who prefer something smaller, Little Lime Punch is similar, flowering earlier in summer, then turning deep red by mid-summer. It’s such a performer it’s been named Hydrangea of the Year for 2025. It’s about half the size of Limelight at maturity.
Pinky Winky hydrangea, another wildly popular choice, opens with pure white blooms that become two-tone in late summer as the base of each flower turns pink.
Bobo, a favourite of mine, is covered in clean white blooms that turn soft pink in fall. Bobo remains tidy and obedient, not growing more than 80 or 90 cm high and wide.
Both Pinky Winky and Limelight are available as tree-form hydrangeas with a single stem of a metre or more, opening up to a showy bush. Be sure to prune these standard hydrangeas each spring to maintain a tidy shape.
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