Question about pinnacle hydrangeas

7 years ago

I am in south central Kansas (zone 6b). We get spring rains, but our summers are usually quite dry, hot, and windy with an occasional summer rain. I am considering planting Limelight Hydrangea or Pinky Winky Hydrangea. I will plant them in a location with morning sun and afternoon shade. The shade is provided by a house on the west side of the planting location. The location is also very open to wind and rain. Which of these two pinnacle hydrangeas do you think would fare better in the above planting conditions?

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NHBabs z4b-5a NH

7 years ago

I grow Pinky Winky, and find the pink stage isn’t as nice or as long lasting as the pink stage for other panicled hydrangeas. It tend to progress to a rusty red in September for me. I am also not certain that in your hotter, drier area the pink color will develop at all well based on comments from other posters here about pink color development in various cultivars of panicled hydrangeas in warmer zones. So in your situation I would go for Limelight, but only if you want a plant that large since they are impossible to control much for size. Limelight will get larger than 8’ in all directions IME. From an early spring pruning they will regrow to almost full size by the time they start blooming and further pruning will reduce bloom. If you don’t want as large a plant as Limelight, choose one of the smaller types, several of which are listed by ckerr007.

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Comments (7)

ckerr007
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Those are technically "panicle" hydrangeas, but we know what you mean :-) We only have the smaller varieties (Bobo, Little Lime, Little Quickfire, Sugar Puff) so I can't comment on real-world growth and differences between Limelight and Pinky Winky. But they're both labeled for part sun and reach a similar size, and they bloom on this year's wood so I wouldn't worry about the wind or rain. To me they'd both do fine and the choice is yours on what color blooms you want, pale green to white with Limelight or the pink and white of Pinky Winky.
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hyed
7 years ago
Hi Samsarah, i’M with NH Babs , Pinky Winky why NO FLOPING when the rains come & holds up to the wind...But can really Large 10’x10’
Tim
Original Author
7 years ago
Well, I don't think I'll have any issue with the performance of either of these hydrangeas, but the potential size is a bit of a concern. I may be now leaning towards Little Lime Hydrangea or Silver Dollar Hydrangea. I do want the hydrangea I plant to get AT LEAST 4-5' wide and 4-5' high but not 8-9' tall or high. I still want to be able to see out of my windows in five years.
hyed
7 years ago
Good move, Limelights & Pinky Winky can get Very Large...Good Luck
guyground
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
It really depends which bloom type you prefer. Pinky winky can be contained reasonably by pruning at least for me.

Whatever you decide follow these tips for success:

Fall planting is best. Thus, don't plant till about September 15. Just look at 10 day forecast and make sure no heat wave coming.

Pannacle hydrangeas don't like to dry out the first year. Thus, during the first summer plan on giving supplemental water.

After the first summer is over you should be ok with watering just during periods in the summer of low rain / drought.

Hydrangeas greatly benefit by a 2-3 inch layer of mulch. Definitely mulch when planted.

Good Luck !
luis_pr
7 years ago
Consider transplanting Limelight elsewhere and putting a more compact hydrangea in its place. But it may be getting too warm now for this transplanting business.

Limelight can reach 10' in some places.

Luckily, you can do all this in the Fall, when temps are cooler. If you get Little Lime or Silver Dollar, keep it potted until ready to transplant Limelight. Just do not forget to water it while potted.