Limelight hydrangea trunk rot

4 months ago

I grow many panicle hydrangeas on my property...Quickfire, Little Quickfire, Little Hottie, Pinky Winky, Firelight...but the one that always gives me trouble is Limelight. I just recently had to remove 3 due to trunk rot. Prior to this recent case, I had to remove 2. In both cases, the limelights were in the ground 4 years. I'm in central Indiana...somewhat clayish soils but drainage is average I'd say. Very flat property...but my beds are about 12" higher than the lawn and I plant very high within the bed. Soils here stay pretty wet all winter...an extended ground freeze is not a given every winter anymore.

The rot is always above ground, it starts as a mushy spot on the trunk after a year or two, then over the course of the next couple years completely girdles the trunk. When I've dug them up, the roots looks perfect. They extend several feet and are white and firm. As you can see in the pics, they are not planted too deep.

I know there are several types of fungi that can live in the soils and cause root rot...but what about when the rot is always above ground? Has anyone noticed Limelights being more susceptible or sensitive to wet soils than other panicles?

The pics were taken in late winter...once the warm wet spring arrived it quickly spread around the entire circumference.

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Comments (5)

Marie Tulin Boston burbs z 6a
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago
Im sure somrone will answer you but while you’re waiting contact your county Extension Service. This is their business, helping farmers, growners and homeowners with agricultural and gardening questions. Theyll tell you what to do, which may mean sending them a sample.
Joe Williams
Original Author
3 months ago
My county extension is useless...I did go there and they suggested "critters" were chewing on them over the winter...despite me clearly explaining it is mushy, gooey, rot.

I know there is a mulitude of fungi that can cause root rot or stem rot...and wet soils is what allows them to be active. This is a "winter wet" and "summer dry" location. West side of house so plenty of sun and heat in the summer...but very flat lawn with clayish soils so landscape beds...although built 12" or more higher than the lawn"...stay winter wet.

I've left the bed empty all summer...and beginning to plan on what to plant in fall. I'm looking for a mixed shrub border that could handle wet soil in winter and spring. Anyone have any thoughts?
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mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
3 months ago
The classics would be the shrubby dogwoods, and willows. Winterberry is another possibility. I'm thinking of shrubs that grow wild in our swamps, but can handle normal garden moisture.
Joe Williams
Original Author
3 months ago
Yeah I thought of the dwarf red twig dogwoods. How well does the foliage hold up during July-August heat? Winterberry would be nice...although I do have neutral soil...around 7.0, I've always thought of winterberry as an acidic soil plant.

Ninebarks I believe are an option for this type of location. Not a big fan of some of the older cultivars...but the newer amber jubilee looks nice.
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
3 months ago
My pH is 7.2 and winterberry grows wild locally. There are plants that are problematic here because of the soil pH, but winterberry isn't one of them.