Hydrangea 'Little Lime' - uneven growth
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
3 years ago
This is year two for this shrub in my bed. I have two of them. Last year the other one did this but this one didn't. This year they both are doing that. Instead of an even and uniform growth of the branches, a few will just shoot up higher than the rest of the shrub. I don't think cutting it back will work, because then those branches will be without flowers, right?
I cut back the branches on the other this spring to make them all even before it started leafing out, but it clearly didn't help. And these are different branches than the few I pruned back.
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (7)
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoRelated Discussions
"Little Quick Fire" & "Little Limelight" Hydrangeas
Comments (10)You can Google image search for various states of bloom. All hydrangea paniculata begin mostly white and fade to pinks and browns. Both are "dwarf" hydrangea paniculata, as they aren't supposed to exceed 5' in diameter. There would be zero dieback down to zone 3. All paniculata are drought tolerant and require full sun in zone 4. 'Long as the soil stays moist and mostly shaded, little manual watering would be needed. Little Quick Fire just came out this year, so not many people have it. It would be a wise choice for mixed borders as full size QF (like mine) can exceed 7' in diameter. QF (a rare case) should NOT be pruned past early fall (when the leaves turn), and never after the plant begins to leaf out in spring - otherwise you will eliminate blooms before they happen. Little Lime is a top-rated shrub. Each spring, simply prune out tiny outer branches and leave the thickest toward the middle. There are no pruning restrictions on Limelight. QF stems are ruddy in color and have dark, rough, medium sized leaves. Limelights have much lighter stems and leaves (light green across the board)....See MorePictures of mature little limes please
Comments (27)green_go, I just want to verify that the photos you posted August 13th are indeed Little Lime hydrangea? I want to plant a mass of them this fall, but have been so concerned that they wouldn't exhibit the white bloom that your photos seem to show. If mine would look like yours, I would be most pleased! All plants I have seen at local nurseries seem to go almost directly from lime, to pink, to brown and I don't want that....See MoreLittle lime frost damage?
Comments (7)It depends, among other things, on how freely the sap was flowing, how cold it got and what kind of damage happened when the ice crystals formed in the leaf veins and in the stems. They should develop new foliage in 2-4 weeks if the stems are ok. Or hydrangeas may develop new stems to replace the ones that got zapped. You just need to wait and see. So, wait 2-4 weeks. Sometimes you can tell if the stem is still alive by very, very carefully doing a scratch test on the bark to see if you see green. In very bad cold freezes (much below your 30F) , the waiting time may be a tad longer. Active growth should help produce leaf stem in stems but that tends to happen once the overnight temperatures are typically above 50°F. In the future, consider watering deeply the night before the late freeze/frost warnings, use 2-4" of mulch and protect with frost cloth or blankets (just do not use heavy blankets that may bend or break the stems). Remove the frost cloth once temperatures warm up. This problem should not affect flower bud production as they usually start that flower bud production late. Do not prune the stems unless they appear dead or a scratch test shows that the stem or part of it is dead. If the stem is partially injured (for example, if the top half has no leaf out but the lower half has leaves), you can either prune to only remove the dead wood or you can prune it all the way down. I prune them all they way down sometimes when the stem is too small relative to the others and does not look right....See MoreHydrangea 'Little Lime' - pruning now?
Comments (2)The consensus seems to be that pruning back a paniculata too hard does not allow sufficient time for the wood to "ripen" or become stiff and therefore more self supporting. The suggestion is to never cut back any more than a quarter to a third of the branch length. This will allow the previous seasons' growth to firm up or stiffen and less chance for the flopping or drooping caused by heavy blooms on too flexible wood. It is best to wait until the plant is dormant before pruning, so any time from late fall to very early spring....See Moreprairiemoon2 z6b MA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
Thyme2dig NH Zone 5
3 years agoI haven't pruned any of them, unless I want to get them more in the shape of a tree, Pee Gee and Tardiva, for example. I planted a handful of Bobo a few years ago, and I have to say this is probably my favorite at this point. It gets to a decent size (4 x 4) and gets a lot of flowers. I have them in full sun as well as some pretty good shade and they all flower (the ones in sun flower much more). I also planted a Tuff Stuff a few years ago. It is loaded with buds this year and appears to be a pretty reliable bloomer. This is the only one I have that won't have white flowers.
If you're looking for a paniculata, I would say my favorite is Bobo. Smaller, almost lacier flowers.
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThyme2dig NH Zone 5
3 years ago
Related Stories
FLOWERSWhy You Should Give Hydrangeas a Place in Your Yard
The exuberant mop-headed beauties evoke dreams of an endless summer by the sea
Full Story
GARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGHave a Ball With Hydrangeas
Even if you don't tinker with the hue by changing the soil, hydrangeas have an entertaining range of uses in all kinds of landscapes
Full Story
FLOWERS AND PLANTSHydrangea Arborescens Illuminates Garden Borders and Paths
This long-blooming eastern North American native shrub finds a home in landscapes around the world
Full Story
TREES10 Spectacular Trees for Courtyards and Tight Spaces
Here are some top small-scale trees for 4-season interest, easy care and little mess
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESGreat Garden Combo: 6 Beautiful Plants for a Shady, Wet Site
Transform a shade garden with moisture-loving golden grasses, textural leaves and a sprinkling of flowers
Full Story
TREES11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form
With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting
Full Story
LIME FOLIAGE5 Gold Plants to Illuminate Shady Garden Spots
Dark garden corners don't have to mean deep, monochromatic color. Gold plants brighten the landscape with shots of luminosity
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGNGreen-Only Gardens Draw the Eye and Soothe the Spirit
Use plant and foliage variety to create a monochromatic landscape as visually pleasing as it is calming
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDES20 Ways to Create a Chartreuse Splash in the Landscape
Use this hot garden color for plantings, paint and accessories to create a cool outdoor vibe
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGNPretty Trees for Patios, Paths and Other Tight Spots
Choose trees for their size, shape and rate of growth — or shape them to fit your space. Here's how to get started
Full Story
Thyme2dig NH Zone 5