Amy Draiss
Adored for their ease of growth and lasting bloom, panicle hydrangeas are among the most popular flowering shrubs for the home garden. Growing panicle hydrangeas can add impressive color and voluminous floral impact over a long season from summer to fall.
With their substantial flower heads and flowering habits, panicle hydrangea varieties make dramatic yet reliable specimens for both foundational and mass planting in full sun and part shade. Some small panicle hydrangeas can even be grown in large containers and planters. Here are some of the most spectacular panicle hydrangea types you can keep enjoying year after year.
You’ll find a range of frothy panicles, plus smooth, oakleaf and climbing hydrangeas, in our special curated selection. Browse the Gardening Know How Shop.
Choosing the Best Panicle Hydrangea Varieties
Hydrangea paniculata varieties share many of the same qualities, especially in floral structure and growth habit. Most have considerable hardiness and tolerance to full-sun conditions. That said, panicle hydrangea types do range in color and size. Both tall and dwarf hydrangea cultivars are available for all manner of locations, from modest patio to expansive cottage garden border.
We’ve rounded up the most popular varieties of panicle hydrangea, from compact floriferous shorties to more voluminous specimens that are suitable for flowering hedges, foundation planting and border planting. Whether you're after plushy, rose-pink petals, neon greens or brilliant white flowering shrubs, these panicles cover all the bases.
1. ‘Angel’s Blush’
Performing well in both part- and full-sun conditions, ‘Angel’s Blush’ hydrangea produces an abundance of highly attractive pink florets. These large shrubs make excellent flowering plants for seasonal privacy screens and hedges. They reach approximately 8-12ft (2.4-3.6m) tall at maturity. This panicle hydrangea variety is hardy in USDA zones 4-8.
2. ‘Candy Apple’
Highly compact, ‘Candy Apple’ hydrangea is ideal for use in smaller beds, mixed borders and even containers. This unique panicle hydrangea is a dazzling green flower variety, with alluring chartreuse tones. This shade gives way to crisp white petals as flowers mature. Growers can expect blooms to persist through summer, dimming only with the arrival of cooler temperatures in fall. This variety is hardy in USDA zones 4-8.
3. 'Grandiflora'
Reaching 10-20ft (3-6m) at maturity, ‘Grandiflora’ hydrangeas (aka PeeGee hydrangeas) are best known for their large tree-like stature. Like many white panicle hydrangea varieties, this type demonstrates exceptional tolerance to sun. It is a solid choice for anyone living in regions that are especially warm throughout summer.
Conversely, ‘Grandiflora’ is an excellent shrub for cold tolerance. It is an excellent hydrangea for zone 4 growers, and hardy in USDA zones 3-8. These shrubs only seldom have troubles with pests, but keep your eye out for the odd fungal disease.
4. ‘Pinky Winky’
‘Pinky Winky’ is celebrated for its immense ornamental value. In late summer, brilliant white flowers transition to stunning two-toned white-pink blooms. These large shrubs make an excellent choice for hedging or for use at the back of borders.
Routine pruning of ‘Pinky Winky’ hydrangea plants in late winter will aid in the production of its immense and long-standing flowers, which bloom on new wood. Plants are hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
5. ‘Quick Fire’
Ever popular, ‘Quick Fire’ hydrangeas are likely to be found at most any garden center. Plants are best known for their early bloom, filling most beds with color by mid summer. The likes of ‘Quick Fire Fab’, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, showcase a medley of pristine whites, then luscious pink and red hues that give these flowers the appearance of giant ice cream cones as they age.
Shrubs will reach 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) tall at maturity, unless you grow a dwarf cultivar like ‘Little Quick Fire’, available in the Gardening Know How Shop. These shrubs grow best in partial shade and are hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
6. ‘Strawberry Shake’
A well-favored option for long flowering perennial beds, ‘Strawberry Shake’ is treasured for its color and dense flower form. Strong stems hold their blooms well even on windier or wetter days, supporting their weight with ease. Expect this distinctive strawberry-pink color to improve with age, making the plant especially attractive through the fall. These shrubs are hardy in USDA zones 4-8.
7. ‘Limelight’
Known for their ability to withstand both cool and warm temperatures, ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas are prized for their ease of care and dependability. Summer flowers open in vibrant white and lime green, fading to soft and dusky pinks.
You can buy cultivars like ‘Limelight Prime’, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, which flower earlier than its namesake. These large shrubs are ideal for use as a focal plant within beds or in the creation of hedges. They are hardy in USDA zones 3-9.
8. ‘Little Lime’
Mimicking 'Limelight' in color, form and appearance, this small panicle hydrangea is sure to dazzle. It is one of the best flowering bushes you can grow if you are short on space and love your hydrangeas.
These compact plants work well in mixed beds, along walkways and even in containers. Shrubs bloom on new wood, and their vibrant flowers persist through summer and into fall. This hydrangea variety is hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
If you like 'Little Lime', this panicle packs a real Punch – and transitions from vibrant green to soft medleys of pink. Buy in the Gardening Know How Shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Difference Between Panicle and Limelight Hydrangeas?
The term ‘panicle’ is used to describe a distinct flower form with cone shaped heads. Hydrangea paniculata species garner their name as a result of such multi-branched inflorescences. ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas are amongst the most popular varieties of this type, with flowers that start greeny white and mature to dusky pink and bronze.
Do Panicle Hydrangeas Bloom All Summer?
Though bloom time will vary according to specific cultivar, you can usually expect panicle hydrangea flowers to persist throughout summer and well into the fall. Changes in form and color may also occur throughout the growing season, further adding to their appeal. Several panicle varieties will flower until October.
More Gorgeous Hydrangeas And Blooming Shrubs
- Are you wondering which hydrangeas are the very best bets for your particular area? Our rundown of the best hydrangeas by zone explores the perfect picks for each part of the USA – so you can be sure your flowering shrubs are as healthy as they are fabulous.
- Do you want to guarantee the happiest hydrangeas with the biggest, showiest flowers? Read the key hydrangea care mistakes to avoid so you give your shrubs the best chance of developing an extended season of magnificent blooms.
- Keen to make sure your hydrangeas hit their stride and keep flowering long after the summer ends? Boost their chances by fertilizing your hydrangeas the right way.
- Do you ever wonder if you can grow a hydrangea as a houseplant? Our guide to growing hydrangeas indoors gives you the inside scoop on homegrown loveliness.
- For a gorgeous range of fluffy flowerheads, jewel-bright colors and vibrant evergreen textures, why not explore the flowering and evergreen shrubs and trees in the Gardening Know How Shop?
This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop. Keep in mind that our plant inventory is limited - so if you’re thinking of purchasing, don’t wait!
-
Best Climbing Roses For Every Garden: 12 Stunning Varieties For Pergolas, Arches & WallsDiscover the best climbing roses to plant in your garden to ensure a long summer of glorious blooms.
-
Go Big With Containers In Small Spaces! 5 Easy Hacks For Big Garden Pots In Small GardensThe temptation with small gardens and patios is to make containers and planting ideas small – but we say go big! Try these practical hacks for beautiful big garden pots in small gardens
-
How To Keep Dahlias Flowering For Longer – Start Now With These Pro Tips For A Bloom-Filled Summer & FallThey are some of the most popular, diverse and dynamic summer flowers you can grow – so here’s how to keep dahlias flowering for as long as you possibly can for a joyful extended season of blooms
-
Do Deer Eat Hydrangeas? How To Keep Beloved Shrubs Safe From Greedy GrazersDo deer like hydrangeas? Everything you need to now about deer and hydrangeas, including the best types to plant if you have deer in your area.
-
8 Flowering Shrubs That Bloom All Summer – To Vamp Up Borders & Sweeten Your Curb AppealLooking for the longest blooming bushes for your borders, pathways and lawn edgings? You'll love these 8 flowering shrubs that bloom all summer long
-
6 Blue Ornamental Grasses That Will Wow Your Neighbors And Add A Unique Touch To Your LandscapeChoosing a blue ornamental grass can dress up borders and yards with striking color that changes with the seasons.
-
How To Grow A Sorbet Peony For Fluffy Pink Double Blooms With Unique FrillsFor pink peonies with a unique edge, the Sorbet peony is a super-frilly bloomer with marshmallow and cream colored petals. Here’s how to grow this dynamic cultivar
-
Grow Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea Shrubs: Try Vanille Fraise Hydrangeas For Sweet Blooms Every SummerFor a dreamy shrub that brings soft color variations and long lasting visual interest, grow a Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea. Here’s how to care for Vanille Fraise shrubs
-
Coral Sunset Peony: Your Complete Guide To This Beautiful Color-Changing HybridThe coral sunset peony is a gorgeous addition to any garden. This beauty has double blooms that undergo an amazing color change as they age.
-
How To Grow Panicle Hydrangeas For Gorgeous, Low-Maintenance Blooms All Summer Long – Plus, Top Cultivars To TryPanicle hydrangeas are the ultimate low-maintenance shrubs! These beauties bloom all summer and all it takes is a little care. Here's how to help them thrive.
