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Peegee Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata (hy-DRAN-jee-uh pan-ick-yoo-LAY-tuh)

Family: Hydrangeaceae Non-native Understory (15-40 ft)

'Grandiflora' is a cultivar of the panicle hydrangea is a perennial, woody, deciduous shrub or small tree in the Hydrangeaceae (hydrangea) family. The parent plant is native to eastern and southern China, Japan, and Sakhalin and Kuril Islands. The name hydrangea is derived from Greek and Latin and taken to mean water vessel, in reference to the "cup-like form of the seed-capsule." 'Grandiflora' is easy to grown and reaches a mature size of 10 to 20 feet tall and wide. This hydrangea is more tolerant of full sun than other hydrangea species but prefers morning sun and afternoon shade. Plant it in neutral to acidic soil with good drainage. It can be severely pruned in late winter or spring as it blooms on the current season's new growth, not on the woody stems formed during the previous year. The plant is shallow rooted and will benefit from a layer of mulch. The showy white conical blossoms appear from July to September when few other landscape plants are blooming. The large ovate leaves turn an attractive yellow color in the fall. This shrub is winter hardy, tolerates, heat, humidity, salt, and thrives in urban conditions. Consider 'Grandiflora' for an Asian or butterfly themed garden. Or plant it in a cottage, courtyard, or in a shaded woodland garden. Planted in groups it works well as a border or hedge but is also delightful as a single specimen. Quick ID Hints : opposite serrate leaves, whorled at branch tips large, cone-shaped inflorescence stout stem, reddish-brown streaked with gray Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and mites occasionally visit but are rarely a problem. Some susceptibility to leaf spot, rust, mildew, bud blight, and bacterial wilt. It is susceptible to damage by deer and has brittle stems that are easily wind damaged. More information on Hydrangea paniculata .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 57 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 2 - Understory (15-40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Hydrangea paniculata Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' Muenchhusia laevis

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
3-6 inch long and 1-3 inch wide oval to ovate medium green leaves have serrated margins. They are whorled towards the leaf tip. Undersides have hairs. Opposite, whorled at branch tips, simple, 3-6" long, half as wide, ovate or elliptical, serrate margins, acuminate tip, dark green and slightly pubescent above, bristly on veins below, 1" long petiole.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower detail
6-8 inch long cone-shaped panicles of many creamy white mostly sterile flowers that may become pink-tinged. Blooms mid-summer to fall. Individual flowers have 4 petals. Can reach 12-18" long, 6-12" wide at base. White changing to purplish pink, almost all are sterile, yellowish white, showy, each with 4-5 normally toothed sepals, strong scent.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Dry capsule
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Gray-brown bark shreds when mature
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stout stems are reddish-brown with gray streaks, older bark often peels. Buds imbricate, globose, brownish in color, sometimes twisted looking.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Asia
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous shrub #deciduous #deer browsing plant #large flowers #showy flowers #white flowers #long-lasting flowers #mass planting #fantz #dried arrangements #shade garden #easy to grow #heat tolerant #air pollution tolerant #wind damage prone #flowers mid-summer #specimen #flowers early fall #flowers late summer #urban conditions tolerant #cottage garden #salt tolerant #border back #butterfly friendly #woodland #small groups
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Twospotted Spider Mites on Landscape Plants
Other problems
Wind Damage; White-Tailed Deer
Resistant to
Heat; Humidity; Pollution; Salt; Urban Conditions

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.