suzannelmathew whereabouts do you live? I see Limelight standards all the time here in Toronto because it's hardy enough to live here. Both nurseries and big box stores have them, as well as other types of Hydrangea Paniculata standards. I have a Limelight standard in my backyard and it's great! The actual hydrangea part so far grows to about 3.5 feet high (so the very top is around 7 feet high) and the branches are upright and strong--no drooping, even if pruned in the spring. One warning: it is top-heavy and so if your soil is moist/loose then the whole thing can get blown over quite a ways in higher winds. So you may want to stake it for a couple of years. Mine got blown over to quite an angle after several days of rain and then a big windstorm, and just two days ago I partially dug it up to straighten it out again.

gardengal48... So Friday Was my very first visit to the Plant Depot... Let me just say... I am IN LOVE!!! They had ordered both the "super" 1 gallons and 5 gallons waiting for me. To my surprise the "super" 1 gallon size looked much bigger than I had imagined they would. I walked out of there with 4 "super" 1 gallon Limelights and 2 bags of Acid Soil Ammendment. I really had to use a serious amount of self control and restraint to keep myself from buying more. I think I may have a plant addiction... HELP!!!... ;-) I can't wait to get these hydrangeas in the ground and growing for me. Based on the information on the tag, it says that they're the hardiest of all the Hydrangeas... needing less water and being able to take more sun, than many of the other Hydrangea varieties out there, once they're established. So I'm hopeful that I will have much more success with these Hydrangeas than the other ones I've planted in the past. I CAN'T wait to go back to The Plant Depot and do some more garden dreaming... such a cool place. Thanks again for leading me towards The Plant Depot. I would not have known to check them out if it had not been for you... :-) I'll have to snap some photos sometime and share. Thanks again for all your help!

There are so many varieties of panicle hydrangea now, in addition to limelight and little lime. These are an unnamed variety from a grower here in east Texas - they only get about 6 hours of full sun, but they really responded to this cold winter. The flowers age kind of pinkish then dry nicely for arrangments. We've also had good luck with the smooth hydrangeas (h. arborescens) such as Annabelle in similar condition, actually in the same bed - these might be 'Incrediball' - I have to wait till fall to climb in to see the tags. We did plant them on the east side of some taller shrubs (viburnum 'Opening Day' and 'Rosalinda' Indian hawthorn, which is recovering from last winter's freeze) to provide some afternoon relief from the hot sun.

Limelights are notorious for showing their feet as the growing season progresses but it is a little rare for two to leaf out a whole month apart when so close to each other. Mind you, I am not saying it could not happen, only that it would be odd. Also, I would never expect two originally potted (by the plant wholesaler) hydrangeas to grow at the exact same rate since one's root system may have been cut shorter than the other's root system, for example. So, I think we need more information. Let me ask you a bunch of questions to rule out other stuff... Does the one on the right -which is closer to the hose- get more water than the one on the left? Hoses sometimes leak water where they connect to the spigot and I am wondering if the area by the right Limelight then gets all this extra "leaking water". I am also noticing that the annuals in the extreme left appear to be slightly smaller than the annuals in the middle. It may be normal but I was wondering if the annuals were originally of the same size and were they planted there at the same time? So, exactly how much water does the one of the left get and how often do you water? Do you water both of them the same amount with a sprinkler or do you water manually? Have you ever had similar issues with other plants in that spot suggesting soil or watering problems? Is your soil hard clay that may sometimes be difficult for the roots to penetrate? Do they receive the same amount of sun (include indirect scenarios such as when the sun is reflected from the large windows towards the plants)? Is it somehow warmer or more windy closer to the step up? Does the general area in which they are planted suffer from underground pests that may disturb or damage the roots (think voles, etc)? Could the one the left be suffering from circling roots because it was pot bound for too long? Do you remember cutting off the roots that may have been growing on the sides of the pots? Where are you? Do you live where nematodes are present? Approximately when do they leaf out for you? Is your soil acidic or alkaline? Have you tested soil pH in that bed? Do you know if your soil has any type of mineral deficiencies? Do you fertilize these eventually large shrubs? When? How much? Does one shrub get more fertilizer than the other one? Any stories that you remember when you planted them? For example, did you notice when planting that the area near the left shrub was more rocky? Sorry for sooo many questions. I am hoping one might trigger an 'aha' moment though. I wish we could just "ask the plants"! ;o)