Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Hottie' - Little Hottie® Panicle Hydrangea

An extremely compact selection with great branching and sturdy stems; tight clusters of blooms are initially green, then open to creamy white, taking on pink hues in fall; large blooms and smaller stature make it an ideal choice for smaller landscapes

Height: 4 feet. Spread: 4 feet. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 3a.

Ornamental features

Little Hottie® Hydrangea features bold conical white flowers with creamy white overtones at the ends of the branches from mid summer to late fall, which emerge from distinctive light green flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The textured pointy leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color.

Landscape

Little Hottie® Hydrangea is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use.

Planting and growing

Little Hottie® Hydrangea will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers average to moist conditions and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. To help its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.