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Bought a Limelight standard...now what?

16 years ago

I just had to have it....

Now I'm not sure where to put it. I realize best exposure is full sun, but right now it is sitting in the pot on my patio, and I realized when looking out my window it looks quite nice on the patio, and I have a very large fiberglass pot I could plant it in and enjoy it there (I can drag the pot in the garage for the winter, that's not a problem).

Problem is, the patio only gets about 4 hours of sun, and my concern is a paniculata-type hydrangea just won't thrive in only 4 hours sun.

Do you guys think I should give it a try or plant it out in the garden will it will get full sun? Soil/watering isn't an issue in either location, just the amount of sun.

Thanks for any advice!

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Comments (4)

ostrich
16 years ago
mxk3, congratulations! Where did you find such a beauty!? I have never seen one before! Now, you must post a picture of it!

I guess there are several issues. I wonder how successful a paniculata can be grown in a pot?

Then in terms of the light, do you get 4 hours of morning sun, early afternoon or late afternoon/early evening sun there? Which direction does it face?

I don't think that Limelight does poorly at all in partial shade (but remember that 4+ hours of sun, especially good quality sun in the morning or noon) is classified as full sun... in fact, I have read that it does help the blooms to maintain the best green color!

I suspect that to bring out the best in this plant, to fulfil its best potential, you should have it in the garden.

Hey, I bought a Snow Mountain hydrangea tree recently out of impulse, not knowing where to put it, now it is a focus of my backyard and it looks like it should have been all along! Good luck.
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
16 years ago
It isn't actually a grafted mature standard, it is a regular bush with one perfectly straight trunk that looks just like an actual standard, and it's a really good size, too (it's about 5.5' tall with a nice full head).

I bought it at Arrowwood Alpines up here in Michigan (Fowlerville). I had no intention of buying a hydrangea, but it was so lovely I just had to have it! The guy said to keep it as a standard just stake that one branch for support, and any side shoots that come up just prune them out, over time that one branch will turn into more of a trunk and there you have it. (he said it is very easy to do with paniculatas).

I ended up planting it in full sun by the porch. I set the pot out in different places around the yard, and even though I really liked it on the patio, it just fits this particular spot by my porch beautifully (even DH who isn't a plant-lover nor admirer admitted he really liked it).

So, dilemma solved, and it's planted and staked already. :)
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I have two Limelights, and I think I got one from Bluestone. In any case, neither were very large when I bought them, although I know one was bigger than 6". I put mine right in the ground, but I made sure each was surrounded by chicken wire. (I put three stakes in the ground around the plant, and circled them with the chicken wire fencing. This stayed around the plants until they were large enough that rabbits, etc., were no longer a threat.
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As a guide, I normally would prune my limelights when it's starts to leaf out in spring. So around March or April. Remove the deadwood and also remove thin stems. By the way, as this plant matures, it will produces heavier blooms and you will see that this will eventually bend with flowers. And when it rains, it can get so top heavy that it can experience breakage. So be selective with the branches as it matures. The stronger and thicker stems can withstand breakage. Ianna
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Thanks for the advice from a month or so ago! I managed to avoid doing anything drastic to my limelight and it eventually started to leaf out in mid-May. I think the little guy is gonna make it. That said, your helpful words couldn't keep me from doing a little experimentation. I happened to be reading a book about pruning and noticed a passage that said that pruning a small portion of a branch can rejuvenate it. I snipped off a few branch tips and the first leaf emerged two days later. I'm not certain that the pruning did the trick, but given what I've learned about plant hormones and pruning, it may have helped. If any of you have any thoughts on this, let me know. And here's the limelight:
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I wouldn't do any pruning for next year since it is a relatively new plant. I try to give a plant 3 years untouched if possible since the leaves create food and help the plant grow, including a strong root system. (Though established H. paniculatas regrow so fast that it may not be an issue here.) I agree that they look water stressed, perhaps due to not enough water, or perhaps simply due to an immature root system. I'd stick my finger down deep into the soil close to the base of the plant to check moisture levels and water long and deep if it doesn't feel damp. Once they are established I don't need to water my panicled hydrangeas, but yours is still new. Also consider your geographic location (Luis in TX finds his need more water and more shade than mine in NH. I don't water after year 3, and they are in full sun, though well mulched.) Where are you? You may want to give yours some temporary shade in the form of a tall chair placed to the south of the plant, or a sheet on tall bamboo stakes. Once the plant is fully established you shouldn't see this evidence of water stress for the plant, and if you do, move it to more shade.
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ego45
16 years ago
mxk3, sunwise, I'm sure Limelight will be fine, it doesn't need to be in a full sun, but to keep it permanently in a pot, even the large one, I don't think is a good idea. For year or two is fine, but in a future you have to find the place in a garden to plant it.
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for advice, Ego. I did plant it in the ground by the porch (sorry if the post above was confusing), but that's good to know for future reference. :)

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