Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora'

• Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
  
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  Spent flower heads provide some shelter for overwintering insects.
  
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  Birds may perch in the dense branching, but it is not a major bird food source.
  

Spring: Foliage emerges.

Summer: Large clusters of white flowers dominate.

Fall: Flowers turn pinkish to tan, leaves turn yellow.

Winter: Structural interest from dried flower heads and branching.

– Large specimen shrub, focal point in landscapes, small flowering tree form, mixed borders, foundation planting, cut or dried flower arrangements, four-season interest gardens

• Deciduous, ovate to elliptic green leaves, 3–6 inches long.
  
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  Medium to dark green in summer, turning yellow in fall.
  
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  Leaves are coarsely toothed and form a dense canopy.
  

Huge, conical flower panicles (up to 12–18 inches long).

Blooms start creamy white in midsummer, age to blush pink, then fade to tan in fall.

Mix of sterile showy florets and smaller fertile ones creates a dense, fluffy appearance.

Plant in spring or fall in a site with well-drained, fertile soil.

Dig a hole 2–3 times as wide as the root ball and just as deep.

Place the shrub at the same soil level as it was in its container.

Backfill with native soil and organic matter, water deeply, and apply mulch to maintain moisture.

Allow 6–10 feet spacing if planting multiple shrubs, as this variety matures larger than most paniculatas.

• Blooms form on new wood. Prune in late winter or early spring before growth starts.
  
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  Remove dead or weak stems and shape for structure.
  
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  Can be pruned hard to encourage larger blooms or lightly for more natural form.
  
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  Deadheading is optional but can improve tidiness.
  

Requires consistent moisture, especially in summer and during flowering.

Water deeply once or twice a week; more often in heat or sandy soils.

Mulching helps conserve soil moisture.

• Best in full sun to partial shade.
  
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  In hotter climates, some afternoon shade helps prevent stress and prolongs bloom.
  

Cut flowers: Panicles can be cut fresh for arrangements or dried for long-lasting décor.

• Harvest stems when blooms are fully mature and air-dry for best results.
  

• Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (10-10-10) in early spring.
  
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  Supplement with compost or organic mulch during the growing season.
  
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  Avoid excessive nitrogen, which produces leafy growth at the expense of blooms.
  

• Pollinated primarily by bees and butterflies.
  
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  Flowers are not heavily reliant on cross-pollination; sterile florets are ornamental, fertile florets are small and subtle.
  

Perennials: Astilbe, Hosta, Heuchera, Echinacea, Rudbeckia.

Shrubs: Spiraea, Rosa rugosa, Weigela, Physocarpus.

Evergreens: Thuja occidentalis, Buxus, Taxus.

Complements plants with darker foliage to highlight the large white flower clusters.