The Panicle Hydrangea (botanically known as *Hydrangea paniculata*) is a stunning member of the hydrangea family that originally hails from East Asia. These beauties grow upright and can reach impressive heights of up to 13 feet! One of the best things about them is that they are late bloomers, keeping your garden looking gorgeous well into the fall.
Bloom Time
For most Panicle Hydrangeas, the flowering season kicks off in mid-summer. You’ll see large, cone-shaped flower clusters developing on the fresh new growth of the season. They usually start out in shades of creamy white, pure white, or even a trendy lime green. A really cool feature? Many varieties change colors as the season progresses, shifting into a soft blush pink or even a deep, vibrant red.
Bloom Times for Popular Varieties
Because there are so many different cultivars out there, the exact timing of those blooms can vary quite a bit:
- Dharuma: A compact, smaller variety that blooms early from May to June.
- Grandiflora: A classic large variety that flowers from July through September.
- Kyushu: This one can tower at nearly 10 feet tall and blooms from July to September.
- Limelight: Reaches about 6.5 feet and shows off its lime-green hues from July to August.
- Phantom: A medium-height favorite that blooms from August to October.
- Pinky Winky: Grows up to 6.5 feet and flowers from August to September.
- Unique: Another 6.5-foot variety with a nice long bloom window from July to September.
Flower Structure
The blooms on a Panicle Hydrangea look very different from your typical Mophead or Lacecap hydrangeas. While those usually have rounded or plate-like flower heads, the Panicle Hydrangea produces long, cone-shaped clusters (called panicles). These dense, fuzzy clusters can grow over 8 inches long! By autumn, those tiny individual flowers turn into small, brown capsule fruits, each holding anywhere from 30 to 100 seeds.
Location and Soil
If you want to see a spectacular show of flowers every summer, you’ve got to give your hydrangea the right home. These plants love a spot in full sun to partial shade. Pro tip: try to find a place that’s protected from strong winds so those heavy flower stems don’t snap.
As for the soil, they prefer it sandy to slightly loamy and consistently moist. They thrive in soil that is rich in organic matter (humus) and nutrients, with a pH ranging from acidic to neutral. While Panicle Hydrangeas are a bit more drought-tolerant than their cousins, they can only handle dry spells for a few days. To keep them happy during a heatwave, make sure to give them a regular drink of water!
