I'm one zone warmer than you are, and my vanilla strawberry is just barely beginning to bloom. It definitely is a later bloomer. I always think of my Annabelle's as covering the first half of the summer, and my Vanilla Strawberry (and Pinky Winky also) as covering the second half of the summer.

Last year (my v. strawberry was in its second year also), I just put supports under the somewhat weak branches. This year, the branches all appear to be strong and self-supporting. Like lots of other plants, this type of hydrangea seems to also need three years to mature and really get going.

Kate

Thanks Kate, good to know that it will most likely bloom this year.

I do not know why but a lot of people have been experiencing this issue with paniculatas. Either not blooming at all or blooming late. It started with a question about Bombshell and the list quickly grew nto include Limelights and Quickfires. Someone with a Limelight posted to say that hers (in Z5 too) was now showing buds in the broccoli stage. Mid July was the latest blooming time I could find from others but it has been odd that so many paniculata owners are noticing this. The number of panic owners asking about this in prev years was nearly zero. Please check the shrub often during the next two weeks and post any news.

I'm thinking some of the posters believe all hydrangeas are earlier season bloomers, so they worry that something is wrong when the paniculatas haven't bloomed by the end of June. I always knew the paniculatas were later season bloomers and, in fact, picked Vanilla Strawberry and Pinky Winky because I knew their later blooming period would enliven my July-August gardens--a time when the garden too often begins to look run down. My later-blooming paniculatas certainly dress up my July-August garden--thank goodness!

: )

Kate

I agree with that sentiment, Kate. My Vanilla Strawberry, Limelight, and Pinky Winky have just started blooming. Little Lamb and my old PG have not a bud on them. One Bombshell has nothing but the other one has one side with some blooms. Phantom on the other hand is in full bloom.

Funny, my Pinky Winky is in full bloom, the white stage and yet nothing at all, not even a little tiny broccoli spear on my Vanilla Strawberry.

I do not remember exactly when my Vanilla Strawberry started to bloom last year but I do know it was earlier than this time, as I remember thinking that it was ahead of my Pinky Winky. I do hope it blooms this year. Would the extreme heat that we've been having for the past 3 or 4 weeks have anything to do with it not blooming yet? Anyone know? We're talking very high humidity with temps reaching high 90s every day without any relief. First summer I can remember this happening in a very long time.

My quickfire pink diemond and limelight aren,t even thinking about blooming this year but Pinky Winky is loaded and in full bloom.