How to Grow a Hydrangea Limelight Tree

Back in the Spring, Henry and I did a bunch of landscaping around our newly built home. We always DIY our own landscaping for a couple of reasons. We enjoy doing it and it saves a lot of money!

There was an area beside our side porch that needed some height, but not too much height. We didn’t want what we planted there to grow and block any sunlight coming through our kitchen window. It also needed to be able to thrive with partial sunlight since this area only receives morning sun and is shaded the rest of the day.

After doing some research, we found the perfect tree at our local nursery, a Hydrangea Limelight.

What is a Hydrangea Limelight Tree?

Technically, Hydrangeas are shrubs. If you let them do their thing without pruning, they will grow into a full round shrub. But you can buy ones that have been trimmed from an early stage into a tree form. This is what we ended up getting for this spot.

The Hydrangea Limelight (Hydrangea paniculata) is different from other hydrangeas in that they have large conical pale lime blooms, whereas other hydrangeas have blue and pink blooms.

It’s also the hardiest of all the hydrangeas and probably the easiest to care for. This was a major plus for us. We always try to choose plants like this. With our busy schedule, we don’t have a lot of time to care for needy plants.

Where to Plant?

You should plant your Hydrangea Limelight in an area that gets full morning sunlight and is shaded for the rest of the day. As I mentioned earlier, the spot where we planted ours met these requirements perfectly. I think that is why we are seeing it thrive with big beautiful blooms.

Keep in mind that if you are in a colder climate, Hydrangeas require more sunlight. So if you live in a northern state, you should plant it where it receives at least 8 hours of full sun.

Limelights do better in soil that drains well. So you probably don’t want to plant one in clay dirt without mixing in some better soil to create a better drainage situation. I mixed in some potting soil with the dirt that was already there when I planted ours. It seems to be working well!

How Much Water Do They Need?

Unlike other hydrangeas, Limelights do not require lots of water once they are established. But for a new plant, it is good to keep it hydrated until it can establish a strong root system. If you see the leaves drooping a bit, this means your Limelight is thirsty, and you should water it.

When you do water it, make sure to give it a thorough and deep watering and let the soil dry in between waterings, much like a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree.

Should You Prune a Hydrangea Limelight?

The answer is yes. In late winter, you should prune about one-third of the size off. Doing so will encourage new growth the following year without compromising the large branches. They will be needed to support the weight of the large blooms!

Did you know that you can grow new hydrangeas for the ones you already have? We wrote an article all about how to do it.