SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'

COMMON NAME: Limelight Panicle Hydrangea

GARDEN SIZE: 6 to 8 feet tall by 6 to 8 feet wide if left in natural form

GROWTH RATE: Fast

USDA ZONE: 3 to 9

EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial shade. Tolerates urban pollution and more sun than most hydrangeas.

WATER & SOIL: Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Adaptable to clay, loam, or sandy textures with neutral to acidic pH. Mulch to retain moisture and protect roots.

HABIT (FORM): Upright, multi-stemmed shrub with arching branches

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; Dark green, ovate leaves turning yellow-orange in fall

FLOWER COLOR: Chartreuse green maturing to pink, red, and burgundy

FRAGRANCE: None

BLOOM FORM: Panicle; Large, cone-shaped clusters up to 12 inches long

BLOOM TIME: July to September

PLANT ORIGIN: China, Japan, Taiwan, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: May provide some nesting sites and shelter for birds and small mammals, but does not serve as much of a host for local insects and wildlife. May provide food for insects in the spring.

FERTILIZING: Feed in early spring with organic compost or a balanced slow-release fertilizer. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can promote excessive foliage at the expense of blooms.

PRUNING: Blooms on new wood. To shape or rejuvenate, prune up to one third of the length of old wood branches in late winter or early spring while still dormant. Remove spent flower heads in fall or spring; avoid pruning during summer growth. If you have a tree form paniculata hydrangea, trim off shoots that grow where you don't want them, but never actually cut into the main "trunk."

TOXICITY FLAGS: Mildly poisonous to humans and animals (contains cyanogenic glycosides).

USES: Borders, hedges, privacy screens, specimen.