I planted 3 limelights at my last house about 5 years ago. I drove past that house last week and those limelights are at least 8’ tall and wide. Huge and covered in blooms. They are in a prime hydrangea spot - shady most all day and at the bottom of the sloped yard.

They are in z5B, north Missouri.

My neighbor has Limelights in front of her house and no matter how hard she prunes, they grow back just as tall. Hers are about 7 ft tall and obscure her front windows, which she does not like.

Little Lime is an excellent choice which will stay small, but be aware that the blooms are not pure white like Limelight's, and neither are they as large as Limelight's blooms. But still very pretty!

Additionally, my Little Limes are very floriferous - they are in all-day sun and are very happy!

It is a very vigorous paniculata and will be blocking the window easily. Can get 10-12' tall. In your case, use Little Lime or Bobo.

I have a limelight that is under the full shade canopy of a poplar all day and has stayed about 4 feet tall for many many years. I only prune the dead blooms or dead stems off. I wanted to get two more for the area and started reading how they can get huge.... but I guess mine didn't read the manual.

@bethanya_nj,
What kind of light do your Little Limes get? How many hours of sun, how many hours of shade?

When they were planted, was the root ball loosened up? What was the soil amended with?

How much water are they getting?

I LOVE Limelights also. I agree with the other poster that they probably will be too tall to be in your front window. But - in my row of Limelights, the 2 at the far end get less sun & less watering from the irrigation system. They are significantly smaller in height & width that the Limelight’s at the other end of the row.

Where in NJ are you? If you decide you’re fed up with your Little Limes, I might take them off your hands 😉

In full shade, they will not bloom as much as if it was in full sun (but you may not notice unless you have two side by side in these light conditions), the lime green color will last longer and the white bloom color will show up later (never in times when it is continuously cloudy for more than a month). I have one in full shade too and that is what I observe.

How tall do the Little Limes get in full sun, zone 5?

If you believe the estimated sizes in Proven Winners' website, they will get around 3' high and 4' wide but much older specimens may test those boundaries. Just a hunch: some Bobo pictures that people have posted in this forum "appear" to show taller plants (taller than 3') though. It is hardy to zone 3.

My little limes in MN are about 5” tall afrer 8 years.

Wow! Those Limelights and LL get huge! I went to our local nursery and they had a Labor Day sale on hydrangeas. I got one Bobo, on sale for $25, normally $40 and an additional 40% off. Not a bad deal, I thought.

Oops. Meant 5 feet Obviously. My limelight of the same age is about 8 feet tall.

Thanks for posting this question-- I have a similar dilemma! Our landscaper has suggested limelight and we're in western MA (zone 5b), so I know it's a good choice (hardiness, etc.). I had originally wanted annabelles but I know they flop so maybe not the best choice. We're planting them in an entry garden on the north side of our home, so while it does get afternoon sun, it's a shady area. My only concern is we have two windows, approximately 5 ft from ground-- one is a bathroom window (so I don't mind if the limelights partially cover that one), and one is a guest bedroom (that needs as much light as it can get). I keep going back and forth-- limelight vs. annabelle-- because I'm afraid the limelights will just get way TOO tall. Any recs?? Should I go for it and stay with the limelights? (Also- we're planting a hedge of little limes across the other side of the house, where the windows are just a few feet off the ground... so I guess the limelights were chosen to complement the smaller version.)

@aesperat

I attached a graphic from the Proven Winners website. It compares the heights of the smooth“ hydrangeas & the panicle hydrangeas.

Proven Winners hydrangea comparisons (marketing brochure)

Limelight can get 8-12' so it will not let you see "out" from those windows. Little Lime (5' by 5') or Bobo (3' by 4') are more compact. Little Lime has blooms that are more of an "off white" than Limelight's "pure" white.

Thanks, @rpwoodard and @luis_pr for your input! Yes, I'm well aware of how large the Limelight gets which is why I'm so concerned. I guess I'm wondering why it was suggested and wondering if I'm missing something. (I'm putting my trust in the "professional" but think perhaps I should follow my gut..." Thanks again!

Other varieties similar in size to Little Lime, if you wanted something with a bit of a different look and flower timing, include Little Quick Fire, Diamond Rouge and Strawberry Sundae.

If you don't want to block the windows, I don't know why your pro would recommend Limelight. There are plenty of nice hydrangea varieties that would fit that space and not have a battle keeping it contained.

Has anyone grown the HYDRANGEA PANICULATA 'DHARUMA'?

I have not but I remember it is a compact paniculata that blooms early.

My Annabells are on the north side with the house behind them. They don't flop when I prune them properly. They keep pushing blooms and still are now, in mid September. They are not as exciting as, say, Strawberry Vanilla, but they reliable and attractive when you need a work horse. I prune in late April/May and don't look at them again.