Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Winky' – Panicle Hydrangea 'Pinky Winky'

The 'Pinky Winky' Hydrangea offers a completely unique two-tone show in the garden. This vigorous shrub is distinguished by its giant flower panicles, which can reach an impressive length of 40 cm (16 inches). Starting in mid-summer, they emerge pure white, and then the florets at the base progressively colour to a rich pink while the tip continues to produce new white flowers. This striking effect, supported by sturdy, dark red stems, creates a magnificent contrast and an evolving visual interest that lasts until fall.

Characteristics

• Foliage: Dense, dark green foliage provides a lovely contrast to the purplish stems and highlights the two-tone blooms. The foliage is deciduous.
• Flowering: Exceptionally large conical panicles (up to 40 cm) appear on new wood. They open white in July, then the base of the flowers turns pink while the tip remains white, creating a long-lasting two-tone effect. The pink colour deepens in the fall.
• Light: Performs ideally in full sun, which intensifies the pink flower colour, but it adapts well to part shade.
• Habit: Adopts an upright, vase-shaped habit, forming a large, open, and well-structured shrub.
• Growth: With a moderate to fast growth rate, this shrub reaches a substantial size of 180 to 240 cm (6-8 ft) in height and width.
• Soil: Very adaptable, it thrives in most soil types as long as they are well-drained.
• Temperature: Incredibly hardy, it is perfectly reliable for our climate.
• Resistance: Good resistance to White-tailed deer. Its exceptionally strong stems hold the enormous flowers up without ever bending.

Use

• Types of Use: Impressive as a specimen plant where it can reach its full potential, spectacular at the back of a border, or used to create an extraordinary flowering hedge.
• Decorative Advantages: Its unique two-tone effect and the massive size of its flowers make it a guaranteed focal point. The dried flowers are wonderful when cut for arrangements or left on the plant for winter interest.

Care

• Watering: Water well after planting and regularly during the first year. Once established, it shows good drought tolerance.
• Fertilization: An application of compost or a shrub fertilizer in early spring is sufficient.
• Pruning: To encourage strong stems and large flowers, prune the shrub back by about one-third in late winter or early spring.
• Planting: It is ideally planted in spring or fall to allow it to establish well.
• Winter Protection: No protection is required. Its hardiness is excellent.