Plant field guide
Hydrangea (Limelight)
Blockbuster paniculata hydrangea with massive cone-shaped flower heads that open lime green, turn white, then blush pink and burgundy. Blooms on new wood - reliable flowering every year.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 72 in (183 cm) – 96 in (244 cm)
- Spread
- 72 in (183 cm) – 96 in (244 cm)
- Spacing
- Not recorded
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 3–8; average annual extreme minimum from -40°F (-40.0°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: February, March.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Much more sun and cold tolerant than bigleaf hydrangeas. Blooms on new wood so can be pruned in late winter. Excellent dried flowers. 'Little Lime' is the compact version.
Pruning
Cut back by 1/3 to 1/2 in late winter. Blooms on new wood so late winter pruning encourages more flowers. Can be cut to ground to rejuvenate.
Fertilizer
Balanced (10-10-10)
Early spring as buds break
Mulch
3 inches of organic mulch.