Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora

Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora is a stunning deciduous shrub that produces an abundance of beautiful white flower heads, which fade to an old rose, along with gorgeous dark green foliage that turns golden in autumn. This hydrangea is easy to grow and highly resilient, tolerating both full sun and partial shade and various soil conditions, provided the soil is well-drained. This large-scale hydrangea shrub will undoubtedly steal the show throughout the summer and into autumn!

The Hydrangea paniculata belongs to the Hydrangea family and is native to Korea, southeast China, Japan, and Russia (Sakhalin and Kuril Islands). It originates from deciduous forests and is a classic variety of the genus and the most commonly cultivated form since its introduction to the West. This plant grows quickly, forming a large bush with brown stems measuring 2.50 to 4 m (8 ft 2 in - 13 ft 1 in) in all directions. The plant's bushy, upright and vigorous habit is characterised by deciduous foliage that appears late in spring. The leaves are ovate and pointed, dark green, and measure 7 to 15 cm (2.8 - 5.9 in) in length. The foliage turns into a stunning golden yellow in autumn if the cold weather doesn't set in too quickly. 

The Hydrangea paniculata is a highly floriferous plant with many conical, dense, and compact panicles. These panicles measure about 30 to 40 cm (11.8 - 15.7 in) in length and are made up almost entirely of sterile flowers. The flowers begin as greenish-white, then turn creamy-white, and gradually evolve into an old rose towards the end of the season. As the branches bear the weight of the flower heads, they gracefully arch, giving the bush a larger appearance. The flowers remain on the bush throughout winter, beautifully decorating the garden during the dormant season. They look particularly stunning when covered in frost.  

The Hydrangea paniculata is a large plant perfect for gardens rather than pot cultivation. It is highly adaptable, easy to grow, and extremely hardy. It can survive in full sun, partial shade, and ordinary soil, even poor or rocky soil, as long as it is well-drained. There are many ways to incorporate this plant into your garden, including using it in a free hedge, as a standalone specimen, or integrating it into a bed of trees and shrubs with perennial plants. It pairs well with shrubs with remarkable evergreen foliage, dark or variegated leaves, coloured stems such as certain dogwoods, or summer or late-flowering shrubs. This contrasts with the colour of the Hydrangea paniculata, which blooms all summer long with changing hues, providing a spectacle in both summer and autumn and winter! Removing faded flowers at the end of the season is unnecessary, as they remain decorative throughout the winter and protect the stems in case of severe frost. However, if you can't resist, hydrangeas make beautiful bouquets, whether fresh or dried.