Panicle Hydrangea (aka Pee Gee)
"Tardiva"
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.
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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.
Back to Hydrangeas
Back to Trees & Shrubs