Dwarf Hydrangea Little Lime

Paniculate hydrangeas can be very large, but Hydrangea paniculata Little Lime was bred in America to be a small (no more than 5/1.5m) version of its cousin, the beautiful and popular Limelight. Its ideal for the smaller garden, and can also be grown in large pots, if kept well-watered lovely along a terrace or in a more formal garden. Its a medium-sized, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with an upright, rounded habit. The slightly toothed, elliptical, pointed leaves are mid-green and the flowering stems are sturdy, well able to support the masses of cone-shaped flower-panicles, 4/10cm across, which are borne for a long period in late summer and autumn. These emerge soft lime-green, gradually fading to white and then blush-pink, often freckled with raspberry-pink; they are good for pollinators, and when dried, they make lovely winter flower-arrangements. Prune the flowered stems off to within a few buds of the woody framework in late February. Dwarf hydrangea Little Lime looks particularly well paired with burgundy-leaved shrubs.

Site: Must have a sheltered position; tolerates a north-facing site
Soil: Moist, moderately fertile, well-drained soil, humus-rich preferred
Position: Best in partial shade
Season of interest: Late July to September/early October
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 4 (1.2m) Spread: 4 (1.2m), or a little larger