Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight’

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight': The Classic Lime-to-Rose Showstopper

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' is the iconic Proven Winners® panicle hydrangea prized for its huge jade-green summer blooms that glow in the garden from across the yard. As the season rolls on, those oversized panicles transition through pink and red tones before settling into a rich burgundy finish in fall. Blooming on new wood from mid-summer into mid-fall, it’s a reliable, high-impact shrub with a compact, mounded shape that anchors borders with effortless drama.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 6–8’
• Spread: 7–8’
• Flower Colour: Jade-green, ageing to pink, red, then burgundy
• Flowering Period: Mid-summer to mid-fall (blooms on new wood)
• Foliage: Green, deciduous shrub foliage
• Sunlight Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil; tolerant of average garden soils once established

Uses and Benefits: A landscape workhorse for mixed shrub borders, foundation plantings, and large-scale drifts where you want long-lasting colour and strong structure. The big blooms are excellent for fresh cutting and dry beautifully for arrangements. Its dependable flowering window makes it especially valuable for late-season impact, carrying gardens from midsummer right through autumn.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun to part shade and water regularly during the first growing season; thereafter, provide deep watering during extended heat or drought for the best bloom size and colour. Because it flowers on new wood, prune in late winter or early spring to shape and encourage vigorous stems—removing up to one-third of the plant is typically well tolerated. Mulch to conserve moisture and protect roots, and feed lightly in spring if growth is weak.

History: Celebrated for redefining what panicle hydrangeas could do in modern landscapes, 'Limelight' became a benchmark variety thanks to its remarkable flower size, luminous colour, and reliable blooming on new growth—qualities that helped cement it as a Proven Winners® favourite in gardens across North America.

Final Thoughts: Few shrubs deliver such a long, evolving display with so little fuss—Limelight is the kind of plant that makes a garden feel finished, from the first green glow of summer to the last burgundy notes of fall.