‘Sweet Summer’ Panicle Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Sweet Summer’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 4-5′

Width at Maturity: 4-6′

Spacing: 4′ for solid hedges; 9’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Rounded Mound

Flower Color: White turning to Soft Pink

Flower Size: Large clusters

Flowering Period: Mid Summer thru Fall

Flower Type: Single in large clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: NA

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade in Zones 3 to 7a; Some Shade or Filtered Sun in mid afternoon hours in Zone 7a-8b

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand (amend quick draining soil for moisture retention), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5 (Moderately Acid to Moderately Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold (-40F), Deer, Disease, Insect, Full Sun in Zones 3a-7a

Description

A subtle beauty in the garden, the ‘Sweet Summer’ Hydrangea displays a plethora of large conical-shaped flower clusters that begin to emerge in July starting out white turning to a glowing soft pink as they age and persisting through fall. The sturdy stems holding the flowers are excellent for cutting and use in fresh or dried flower arrangements. Extremely cold hardy, northern gardeners in locations where temperatures drop to as low as -40F can enjoy this floriferous beauty. At 4 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide when all grown up, Sweet Summer is a great addition to sunny or partially shaded flowering shrub borders or is spectacular as a colorful hedge.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 4 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, the Sweet Summer Hydrangea is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as a colorful hedge in landscape borders. Also a nice accent in home foundation plantings. A fine addition to mixed flowering shrub borders, hydrangea gardens, perennial gardens, pink theme gardens and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 4 feet apart for solid hedges; 9 feet or more for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Sweet Summer Hydrangea is exceptionally easy to grow when planted right and in the right spot. Almost any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility will do. She takes the heat at our location here in north-central Georgia and also withstands even the coldest winter temperatures as far north as USDA Zone 3a. In zones 3 to 7a it can be grown in full sun but in 7b to 8b we suggest some filtered sun or shade during the midafternoon. We suggest at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day or all day lightly filtered sun for best flowering. Too much shade and plants become floppy with diminished flowering. USDA Zones: 3a-8b Find Your Zone

Note: Sweet Summer is a Hydrangea paniculata species that produces its flowers from buds that are formed on “new wood” (the current season’s growth). This means you don’t want to prune them in late spring or summer when they’re preparing to bloom.

For proper pruning time and techniques on various types of Hydrangea see: How To Prune Various Types Of Hydrangea

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Hydrangeas.

How To Plant Hydrangeas In The Ground & Pots

How To Prune Various Types Of Hydrangea

How To Fertilize And Water Hydrangeas

Plant Long & Prosper!

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