Hydrangeas
Paniculata
(aka Panicle or PeeGee Hydrangea)
The
panicle hydrangea is the only hydrangea that may be more popular
in the midwest and northern areas of the country than in the southeast.
It is extremely hardy (to zone 3) and is usually grown in full
sun. They make magnificent standards and a well grown specimen
in full bloom is a sight to behold.
I grow a few
of the panicle hydrangeas with fair to good success. The best
performer seems to be "Tardiva" which does well in partial
shade and can get quite tall. The smaller variety called "Pee
Wee" is also off to a great start and performed very well
last summer. The one I've most problems with is "Grandiflora"
whose huge blooms hopelessly flop and look terrible after being
rained on. I'm trying to prune my plant into a standard but I
must say that the results so far are less than what I'd hoped.
Culture
Site
Selection - The panicle hydrangeas do well in full sun
but, like all hydrangeas, they need a rich, moist soil to perform
at their best. Some afternoon shade will be beneficial during
our long hot summers.
Planting
- Dig a generous hole, wider than the root ball and add compost,
aged manure, leaves, peat moss, etc. to the planting mix. Position
the plant so that an inch of the root ball sits above the soil
line, fill in with your native soil that has been amended and
water well. Surround the plant with 1-2 inches of mulch - leaves
and pine needles are excellent choices.
Fertilizing
- should be done twice yearly - in late winter or early spring
and then again after flowering in late summer. Do not fertilize
after August. I use a general 10-10-10 granular fertilizer which
I sprinkle around the base of each plant. Liquid fertilizers can
also be used and are especially recommended if your plant is suffering
from chlorosis (yellowing leaves). Always follow the rules on
the fertilizer label and don't over-do it. Too much fertilizer
can be harmful and can result in excessive green growth and fewer
flowers.
Pruning
- Panicle hydrangeas can be pruned severely in late winter, before
new leaves emerge. Do not cut shrubs down all the way to the trunk
however especially if you desire a standard. Cut back the main
branches to maintain the form of the shrub.
Keep
in mind that the various types of hydrangeas are pruned differently!
(For pruning instructions for smooth,
oakleaf, and macrophylla
hydrangeas, consult the appropriate web pages on this site).
Hardiness
Generally
considered hardy to zone 3. Click
here for the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Cultivar
List
Name |
Flower
Type |
Characteristics |
Close-Up
View |
Full
View |
Grandiflora |
Panicle |
|
|
|
Pee
Wee |
Panicle |
Smaller
variety growing to 3'-4'. |
|
|
Pink
Diamond |
Panicle |
|
|
|
