Plant of the month: Peegee Hydrangea

You’ll be amazed at how much floral beauty these hardy shrubs will bring to your outdoor living space. Peegee’s (Hydrangea paniculata) have massive, elongated, cone-shaped flower clusters that emerge in August and flourish right through September. The fluffy blooms begin as a greenish-white in the bud stage, opening to white and then fading to soft pinkish-brown tones through September before transitioning to beige for winter interest.

This particular hydrangea is one of the most winter-hardy available and tolerates urban conditions well, making them a classic addition to Alta Vista gardens.  Peegee hydrangeas are fairly fast-growing and can reach four to ten feet in height with an equivalent spread. Due to their size, be sure to leave plenty of room between these plants when adding them in your landscape. 

Fall is the best time to plant Peegee hydrangeas and they’ll thrive in either partial shade or full sun locations. They can grow in pretty much any type of soil, as long as it drains well and is rich in organic matter. As is the case with all white hydrangeas, soil acidity does not impact this plant’s bloom color. 

Peegee hydrangeas are sturdy shrubs that are also don’t have a lot of pest or disease problems. Peegee’s can be pruned mercilessly without any loss of flowers if clipped back in March as blooms occur on new spring growth. 

About the Author:

Patricia is a long-time resident of the Alta Vista area of Ottawa with 30+ years of gardening experience.  If you’d like to share your thoughts about this article or reach out for design and planting advice for your garden, please contact Patricia by email: OttawaPlantByNumbers@gmail.com or on Instagram: @ottawaplantbynumbers