Limelight Hydrangea Bush
Looking for a paniculata hydrangea that blooms late in the season? Look no further than the classic Limelight Hydrangea shrub. This amazing hydrangea changes color throughout the season, from a creamy white to a stunning lime green in the summer, and finally to shades of ballet pink in the fall. Consider adding limelight hydrangea bushes to your garden and enjoy watching them grow and bloom from midsummer to fall.
How to Care for Limelight Hydrangea
Limelight Hydrangeas are among the most tolerant of the larger hydrangeas, and you'll quickly learn why they're so well-loved by hydrangea experts and novices alike. Many of their care needs are similar to those of other hydrangeas, so check out our hydrangea care guide for more details. Here are a few items to keep in mind when planting Limelight Hydrangeas:
- Limelight hydrangea bushes are known to grow 6-8 feet tall and wide in size, so they require some room in the garden to be able to spread. These shrubs don't do well with too much competition, so it's best to avoid overdoing other plants around them, such as groundcovers.
- Although the limelight hydrangea shrub likes full sun, it can also thrive in partial shade. Choose a planting location to avoid extra heat in the afternoon and windy areas, depending on your growing zone.
- Limelight Hydrangea is fairly tolerant of drought, and can also handle sub-par soil conditions. However, to ensure your plant's health, it is advisable, in times of low rainfall, to water deeply once or twice a week.
- Limelight Hydrangea is quite tolerant of hard pruning, compared to more finicky hydrangeas that bloom only on old wood. Prune in spring or fall, and your Limelight Hydrangea will reward you with spectacular blooms.
Limelight Hydrangea: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Limelight Hydrangea fast-growing?
The limelight hydrangea is considered a fast-growing shrub, and it bounces back quickly after even a hard pruning. Prune regularly, never cutting back more than a third of the plant's entire size, and your Limelight Hydrangea will grow one or two feet each year, reaching its maximum size in just four to five seasons.
Will Limelight Hydrangea bloom in the first year?
When planted and cared for properly, a Limelight Hydrangea is capable of producing a few flowers in its first season in a new landscape. However, you'll truly be amazed by the blooms on this plant after its second or third season. A prolific bloomer, Limelight will produce dozens of huge flowerheads after it reaches maturity, each opening in midsummer and progressing through this plant's round of bloom color. These mounded, well-formed flowers open in sizes of six to twelve inches. Limelight creates a truly stunning display year after year.
How tall do Limelight Hydrangeas get?
A fully matured Limelight Hydrangea will reach six to eight feet in height, making Limelight a spectacular statement plant, landscape anchor, or tall hedgerow staple. Your Limelight Hydrangea will reach its full size in four to five years.
When should you plant Limelight Hydrangea?
Plant your Limelight Hydrangea in the fall, along with other shrubbery and nursery stock. A fall planting gives this woody, elegant plant plenty of time to grow and establish a healthy root system before it's time to bloom. Wait until the ground has begun to cool for the season, but plant before deeply freezing weather sets in. The ideal time to plant during the day is early morning or late afternoon, avoiding high-temperature soil.