Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Lime' is a compact version of the popular 'Limelight', offering the same lime green flower heads on a smaller more manageable shrub. Flowers shift from chartreuse to creamy white and finally soft pink as the season progresses providing months of interest in borders and mixed plantings.
Height & Spread: 36 - 60 in x 36 - 60 in
Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Moist, rich, well drained soil
Watering Needs: Moderate; tolerates short dry periods but prefers even moisture
Deer Resistance: Somewhat resistant, though new growth may be browsed
Native Status
Derived from Hydrangea paniculata, a species native to Asia. 'Little Lime' is a compact cultivated form widely grown in temperate gardens.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Supports a range of native bees and bumblebees that forage on its fertile florets throughout the summer.
Butterflies
- Visited by butterflies such as Red Admirals and Painted Ladies when planted in sunny sites.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 48 - 60 in apart to allow for its mounding habit and full flower development.
Landscape Placement
- Excellent for mixed shrub borders, low hedges, or accent plantings in small gardens. Works well in mass for a striking summer display.
Companion Plants
- Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) - Provides fragrance and drought tolerance in nearby sunnier zones.
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) - Offers structural contrast and complementary bloom timing.
- Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' - Adds ornamental grass texture and movement behind the shrub.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' - Brings vertical purple spires that contrast with lime blooms.
- Artemisia 'Powis Castle' - Silvery foliage complements the pale blooms and tolerates dry edges of planting beds.