Panicle Hydrangea, Tree Hydrangea 'Vanilla Strawberry'

Not sure whether or not to give this a positive. I have a Fire and Ice panicula that develops into an off dusty pinkish/brownish/reddish...Read More color rather than the far more red color shown on line and in pictures. After perusing several different internet sites and seeing a variety of pictures from personal owners, I purchased two vanilla strawberry panicula hoping to get the beautiful, girlie, fresh pink and white blooms ("that bloom ALL summer!") seen in every single picture. The fresh pink lasted about a week before picking up the same dusky, off-color shade. Before more buds opened to white, the gentle pinks were already becoming off with some of them getting brown flowers. They are floppy but I just tied twine around them without staking and it seems to keep the blooms off the ground as well as giving the bush a thicker appearance. Both plants get about 6 hours of sun and resist wilting in the heat. This has been a nasty record-breaking heat for Washington state with temps hanging in mid 90's to 102 for 2 months running. It's still hanging in the 80's to low 90's which is still a stress to plants and humans alike. Most of our NW plants expect and like to have a nice long winter and gentle, wet spring before launching into the heat of August. But our winter barely put out a frost before turning to spring in February with increasing temps, way below average rainfall and a burning hot heat starting late May. This has been a tough year for new plants and maybe it's affecting their performance.. I planted the bushes in early July (hot!) and, as with all my new plants, watered them every day, soaking the root ball. Then I water every other day for those in sun for more than 4 hours. I have very lightweight silty, loamy soil with a nutricious mulch which helps to keep some moisture and coolness to the roots but it still dries to talcum powder quickly. But this summer has been brutal and even established plants are refusing to put out much bloom. I bought a Pinky Winky panucula at the same time and have it in part shade. The stems are much sturdier but it's a real woose if it doesn't get watered every single day. Becomes wilted right away. Maybe it's just the glaring heat. Maybe they'll do better next year. I hope.....

Owned several for a few years and haven't been able to get new stems to grow more than a foot or so in a single season. And with any pani...Read Moreculata, thin stems mean small blooms. Cousins growing nearby don't have this issue. For these reasons, I'd place this plant in the medium size category at best, bordering on semi-dwarf. The plant almost seemed to grow faster in a more shaded area, with longer stems and larger leaves.

Have had this plant for two years. Never once has bloomed. It's a pretty plant. Just sits there. Was getting late morning sun to mid-afte...Read Morernoon. We moved it to an east exposure - early morning sun - maybe 4 hours early and some late afternoon has the sun moves. Not one bloom. Ever. So I'm going to move it again. Will get all day long sun. We'll see what happens.

It survives heat and cold equally well. I did not find the plant able to flower well in a mostly sunny location. Other established plant...Read Mores I have seen around do flower but haven't witnessed the Vanilla to Strawberry charm of the plant. The plant habit stinks, grows like a flat topped shrub that falls onto the ground as it flowers. It is rather open and does not gain strength nor grow fast. If you are wanting this plant to grow tall, you will have to stake and train it to do so.

I am very pleased with Vanilla Strawberry so far. I have 3 plants, just got them the end of June. 1 is in bloom, one about to bloom, and ...Read Morethe other is much smaller. They grow quickly and do flop a bit with the blooms but it could be from being young. I am looking forward to next year to see how they hold up over our rough winter!

Has anyone in South Carolina Zone 8a planted this beauty
sucessfully in full sun?