Today, I want to talk about something that’s been taking up a lot of my time in the garden lately: my ‘Limelight’ hydrangea. You know, the one with those big, cone-shaped flower heads that start off lime green and then turn all sorts of pink and red later in the season. Specifically, I want to share my journey with its height. I was really curious about how tall this thing could get, and, well, it’s been quite the experiment.
So, first off, I planted this ‘Limelight’ a couple of years ago, and it was just a little guy then. I did some reading online which said it could get anywhere from 6 to 8 feet tall. I got all excited thinking about this giant, blooming beast in my garden.
The first year, it grew, but it was nothing to write home about. I think it maybe reached about 3 feet? I was a little worried. I watered it, made sure it had enough sun, and I even talked to it (don’t judge). I really wanted it to be the showstopper everyone said it would be.
Then, last year, it started to pick up some steam. It shot up to about 5 feet. I was like, “Okay, we’re getting somewhere!” I made sure to prune it in the early spring, like the books told me. I cut back about a third of the old growth. This is supposed to help it grow bushier and produce more flowers. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, hacking away at your plant, but I trusted the process.
This Year’s Growth Spurt
And now, this year, wow! It’s like my ‘Limelight’ finally decided to show off. It’s easily reached 7 feet tall, and it might even be taller. I had to get a ladder just to measure the thing properly! It’s this huge, beautiful shrub with massive flower heads.
- Watering: I made sure to give it plenty of water, especially during those hot summer days. I used a soaker hose at the base of the plant to really get the water down to the roots.
- Sunlight: It’s planted in a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade, which seems to be the perfect combo for it.
- Pruning: Every spring, I pruned it back by about one-third. It helped the plant grow stronger and bushier. I cut back to a set of healthy buds to make the shrub look nicer.
- Fertilizing: Honestly, I didn’t fertilize it much. Just a bit of compost in the spring seemed to do the trick. Maybe I was lucky. Or maybe the soil in my garden is just really good for hydrangeas.
The flowers are amazing, too. They start out that really cool lime green, and now they’re starting to turn pink. By the end of the summer, they’ll be this deep, rosy color. It’s like having a different plant throughout the season.
So, yeah, that’s my ‘Limelight’ story. It’s been a journey watching it grow, and I’m super happy with how tall and beautiful it’s become. It really is a statement piece in my garden, and I can’t wait to see how it continues to develop in the coming years. If you’re thinking about planting one, just be patient. It might take a few years, but trust me, it’s worth the wait!
