How To Grow And Care For Limelight Hydrangea

Limelight Hydrangea Overview

Limelight hydrangea is a patented hydrangea cultivar well-loved for its beautiful blooms. Young flowers are lime-green and mature to a creamy white before finally turning to a stunning array of pink and burgundy shades during the flowering season from July through September.

This color change makes this plant a perfect addition to your garden.

Limelight hydrangeas can grow like a deciduous shrub or be trained to grow tree-like with pruning. It grows up to 8 feet tall and wide with flower heads that grow 6 to 12 inches long.

These flowers do not droop from the weight and sit upright on the shrub, making it even more desirable. Apart from their beautiful blooms, their ability to tolerate temperatures as low as USDA Zone 3 makes them even more popular. They are a great choice for gardeners in colder climates.

If you want to include hydrangeas in your garden or landscape, they look best in a flower bed or border as a focal point. They can also be used to create a beautiful hedge or grown in containers if there is limited space.

How To Plant Limelight Hydrangea

The following steps and information provide detailed instructions on how to plant and care for limelight hydrangea. 

When to Grow Lime Hydrangea

The best time to plant limelight hydrangea is early spring or fall after any danger of frost has passed. During this time, the plant can establish its root system properly without being affected by extremely hot or cold climates. 

If you live in colder climates and the ground freezes, plant your hydrangeas six weeks before the first hard frost of fall. This timing allows the plants to establish roots before the severe cold penetrates the soil. 

After planting, apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around the plants to help insulate the roots.

Where to Grow Limelight Hydrangea

The best place to grow limelight hydrangeas is where the plant can get at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight throughout most of the growing season. During hotter climates, you might need to provide it with afternoon shade.

In cooler climates, however, they will thrive with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Ensure the plants are protected from strong winds, as they can damage the large blooms.

How To Plant Limelight Hydrangea

There are a few ways you can plant hydrangea in your landscape. The first is to plant the hydrangeas directly in your garden soil. Secondly, you can grow them in containers, and lastly, you can propagate them from older stems. 

Before planting, choose a healthy plant from the nurseries during the growing season. Ideally, you could buy your plant with light blooms so you know you are getting the flower type and color you want. 

You should also look at the roots of the hydrangea. Healthy roots are white with brownish tips. If the roots are brown and the soil has a foul smell, the plant has root problems. Do not buy it, as it may not recover once planted.

Direct Planting

We recommend taking these steps when planting the hydrangeas directly in the soil.

• Choose a planting site that is ideal for the plant. We have already mentioned where you can plant them above.
• Dig a hole twice the width of your limelight hydrangea root ball and roughly the same depth as the root ball.
• Remove the plant from the nursery container and loosen the roots.
• Place in the hole so the plant is slightly higher than the surrounding soil.
• Your plant should be just slightly higher than the surrounding soil.
• Backfill the hole with soil halfway and tamp down gently to remove air pockets.
• Water the plant thoroughly. Ensure you have well-draining soil so that it does not get soggy roots.
• Plant your limelight hydrangeas 7-8 feet apart.

Container Planting

You can also grow your hydrangeas in pots. This allows you to move them in the afternoon during hotter climates. 

• Start by choosing the correct containers. Choose a large container (at least 18 to 20 inches in diameter) for your hydrangea. Small pots usually cause the plant to wilt. Ensure the container has holes to prevent water logging.
• Use good-quality potting soil with organic matter, not ordinary garden soil.
• Plant the hydrangea at the same level it was in its original pot.
• Leave some room below the rim of the pot so you can water.
• Gently tamp down the soil around the roots to eliminate air pockets.
• Water your plant thoroughly.
• You should water regularly, especially when the top inch or so of the potting mix feels dry.
• Your plants need a drink when they have wilted.

Seed Planting

You can also plant hydrangeas from seeds, but this is the least ideal method because it can take up to 4 years for seedlings to mature and bloom for the first time. If you are up for the challenge, here are the steps. 

• Buy seeds from nurseries, or you can get them from older plants. 
• Look for hydrangea flower heads starting to dry and fade in the fall.
• Place a paper bag over the flower head to catch falling seeds.
• Plant the seeds immediately or store them in a cool, dry place until spring.
• Gently press the seeds onto the well-draining potting mix in a pot, but do not bury them, as this will prevent them from getting the light they need for germination.
• Lightly mist the soil to keep it moist but not soggy.
• Germination can take 2-4 weeks. Once they germinate, they are ready for transplanting outdoors.
• Wait until all danger of frost has passed and harden off the seedlings gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing amounts of time each day.
• Plant them in a location with well-drained soil and full sun to part shade.
• Plant the hydrangeas at the same depth they were growing in the pot.

Limelight Hydrangea Propagation

Once you have planted and grown your limelight hydrangea, you can add more hydrangeas to your garden through propagation.

There are two main methods for limelight hydrangeas propagation: softwood cuttings and hardwood cuttings taken in winter. Here is a breakdown of both methods.

Softwood Cuttings 

Softwood cuttings refers to propagating from soft, young plant stems, usually in spring to early summer. This method might be easier and more successful.

• Take cuttings in May, June, or July when new plant stems are soft.
• Look for stems that are about 6-8 inches long and have at least 2-3 sets of leaves.
• Make a clean cut just below a leaf node at a 45-degree angle.
• Remove the lower leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
• Dip your cutting in root hormone powder.
• Prepare a pot with a well-draining potting mix and moisten it.
• Make a hole in the potting mix and insert the cutting, ensuring a node is buried.
• Gently firm the soil around the cutting.
• Water the pot thoroughly and place it in a location with bright, indirect sunlight.
• Roots should develop within 4-6 weeks.
• Once the roots are 1-2 inches long, you can gradually harden off the cuttings.
• Plant the hydrangea at the same depth it was growing in the pot in a location with well-drained soil and full sun to part shade

Hardwood Cuttings

Hardwood cuttings refers to propagating from older mature wood.

• Take cuttings in February or March before new growth begins.
• Choose healthy, woody stems from the previous year's growth. Stems should be about 8-10 inches long and at least ½ inch thick.
• Make a clean cut just above a leaf node at a 45-degree angle. Cut off the top bud of the stem.
• Dip your cutting in root hormone powder.
• Prepare a pot with a well-draining potting mix and moisten it.
• Make a hole in the potting mix and insert the cutting, ensuring a node is buried.
• Gently firm the soil around the cutting.
• Water the pot thoroughly and place it in a location with bright, indirect sunlight
• New growth should appear in the spring or early summer.
• Once the new growth has at least 2-3 sets of leaves, you can harden off the plant and transplant it outdoors following the same steps as with softwood cuttings.

Limelight Hydrangea Care

Limelight hydrangeas thrive if they are grown in the right conditions. 

Watering

Hydrangeas prefer evenly moist conditions. They require about one inch of water per week or a bit more if you are growing the hydrangeas in hotter climates. However, refrain from overwatering as it can cause root rot. 

If you are unsure whether your plant needs water, inspect your plants. The soil feels dry and leaves droop toward the ground in the afternoon if your plant is thirsty. 

You can add mulch to your plant to manage your watering. Mulch helps to keep weeds out of your garden and your soil to hold on to water when it is hot.

Sunlight

Limelight hydrangeas thrive in full to partial sun. This means they need around six hours or more of sun per day. 

However, if you cannot prove them with full sun, they are tolerant of a bit more shade. They will grow in 4 or 5 hours of sunlight, but if planted in deep shade, the growth will be leggy, and the plants will not bloom. 

Soil

Limelight hydrangea plants can adapt to a wide variety of soils, but they grow best in moist and well-draining soil. The soil should not flood the root system of your hydrangea as it can cause root rot. Well-drained soil allows excess water to drain away freely.

The soil should also be rich in organic matter as this helps retain moisture and nutrients for the plant. If it is nutrient-poor, add organic matter like compost, aged manure, or leaf mold. You can conduct a soil to understand how soil should be amended. 

Lastly, your soil should be slightly acidic. Unlike some other hydrangeas, acidic soil does not affect the flower color of limelight hydrangeas and is generally beneficial for most hydrangeas.

Temperature

Limelight hydrangeas thrive in zones 4 to 8, demonstrating significant resilience to both cold and heat. This hardy variety of hydrangea bounces back well each spring, regardless of harsh winter conditions.

Additionally, their salt tolerance makes them a great option for coastal areas.

Fertilizing

These hydrangeas require fertilization only in the spring before new growths appear to thrive optimally. 

When fertilizing, exercise caution as excessive fertilizer can weaken the stems, causing them to bend and droop under the weight of the large flowers. Always follow the application instructions on the specific fertilizer you choose.

You can optionally do a light second feeding in late June or early July. However, this is not essential for healthy blooms. If you are unsure about the need for fertilization, a soil test is a reliable method to determine this. 

Pruning

Limelight hydrangeas bloom on new wood, meaning their flower buds develop in spring. This allows flexibility in your pruning schedule.

You can prune in the fall after all flowers have faded or in the spring before new growth starts. Remove dead, broken, or diseased branches and cut the stalks to about a foot tall.

However, annual pruning is not mandatory. The older stalks of these hydrangeas offer support for the new stems due to their large flowers, so you can skip pruning if you prefer.

Pests and Diseases

Hydrangeas are usually unaffected by common pests and diseases, but you should still be on the lookout for common pests and diseases. 

Limelight Hydrangea Pests

These plants might get affected by common pests like aphids, beetles, and mites. You know your plant is affected when you see curled, distorted, or discolored leaves and sticky honeydew on the leaves and stems.

If you notice you have these symptoms or these pests, you can first try to remove these insects by hand or with a strong spray from your hose. If that does not work, mix a bucket of water with dish soap and spray it on the pests.

Limelight Hydrangea Diseases

Limelight hydrangeas are hardly affected by diseases. The most you should be worried about is fungal diseases.

Some symptoms include a white powdery substance on the leaves, stems, and flower buds, curled and distorted leaves, and leaf spots on hydrangeas. 

• If your plant has fungal disease, remove and dispose of infected leaves, flowers, or stems to prevent the fungus from spreading.
• Improve air circulation by pruning branches that impede airflow around the plant.
• Avoid overhead watering and water at the base of the plant instead to prevent wetting the leaves, as this creates ideal conditions for fungal growth.
• If the infection is severe, apply fungicide.