Hydrangea paniculata Cultivars J–L

'Jane'

Very dense, rounded, potentially very large panicles; flowers initially light green, turning white then often ageing pink; reasonably upright considering the weight of flowers; a dwarfer variety to about 1.2 m tall, flowering late July – mid October (Derby, UK). ‘One of the best dwarf cultivars’ (Hydrangea Derby 2023); ‘nurseries grow huge blocks stretching to the horizons’ (Dirr 2021). Selected 2007 at Spring Meadow Nursery, MI, United States. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent PP22330. (Hydrangea Derby 2023; Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane' (LITTLE LIME® (Savill Garden, Surrey, UK, 12 July 2026). Image John Grimshaw.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane' (LITTLE LIME® at its greenest (nursery stock at flower show Les Journées des Plantes, Courson, France; 19 October 2012). Image Koen Camelbeke (Arboretum Wespelaar).

Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane' (LITTLE LIME®) has large rounded panicles on a compact plant (Morton Arboretum, Illinois; 26 August 2015). Image Deborah J.G. Brown, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane' (LITTLE LIME®) flowers open greenish before becoming white (Morton Arboretum, Illinois; 22 August 2015). Image Deborah J.G. Brown, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane' (LITTLE LIME®) ageing pink (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Kolmagimo'

Huge, very dense panicles; sterile flowers crowded together, opening from green through cream to white. Flowering July – September in the Euro trial. Originally selected as a cut flower variety, the heads are too heavy for the stems in garden use, and are best given support. Selected 2001 by Kolster BV, Boskoop, the Netherlands. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent PP18438. (Hoffman & Houtman 2007; Hydrangea Derby 2023; Google Patents 2023)

Originally bred for cut flowers, the huge inflorescences of Hydrangea paniculata 'Kolmagimo' are really too heavy for their stems and can flop badly if not supported (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Kolmahima'

Loose, open panicles with only about 2% of flowers sterile; flowers remain white; thin brown stems. Selected at Kolster BV, Boskoop, the Netherlands, by 2010. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights. (Hydrangea Derby 2023; Association Shamrock 2022)

Hydrangea paniculata 'Kolmahima' (MAGICAL® HIMALAYA), a modern open panicle cultivar (nursery stock at Kolster BV, the Netherlands). Image Marco ten Hoope, Kolster BV.

'Kolmamon'

Dense, conical panicles of flowers which tend to stay white. Compact, with strong stems. Selected at Kolster BV, Boskoop, the Netherlands by 2010. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights. (Kolster BV 2023; Association Shamrock 2022; pers. obs. 2023)

The dense panicles of Hydrangea paniculata 'Kolmamon' tend to stay white (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Kolmavesu'

Open to half-open, pointed panicles; flowers white, soon ageing pink then red from the panicle base, often giving a bicolored effect; compact, with red stems. Rated ‘excellent and distinctive’ in the Derby collection, although Dirr (2021) feels the mature sepal colour is not the brightest of the many pink cultivars. Selected at Kolster BV, Boskoop, the Netherlands, by 2010. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights, marketed as MAGICAL VESUVIO® Europe, LAVALAMP FLARE® in North America. (Hydrangea Derby 2023; Association Shamrock 2022)

Hydrangea paniculata 'Kolmavesu' at the Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, UK (31 August 2021). Image John Anderson.

The sterile flowers of Hydrangea paniculata 'Kolmavesu' age red quickly (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Kyushu'

Narrow, tapering, open panicles, largest on hard-pruned plants; flowers creamy white at maturity, not reddening with age; sturdy, greenish stems. Flowering in trials mid July – mid September (Wisley), July – August (Euro), late July – mid October (Chicago). Well regarded in all trials, it is floriferous and particularly attractive to insects with its high proportion of fertile flowers. It looks good in a pot and remains a nurserymen’s and gardeners’ favourite. A wild collection from Kyushu by Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram, 1926, but distributed across Europe by the de Belders. (Lancaster & Wesley 2008; Hoffman & Houtman 2007; Hawke 2022; Association Shamrock 2022)

Hydrangea paniculata 'Kyushu' looks equally effective when pruned back to a taller framework (Logan Botanic Garden, Dumfries & Galloway, UK; 25 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Kyushu': the narrow, open panicles are largest when pruned hard, near the base in this case (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Kyushu': this early introduction from southern Japan remains a favourite (Logan Botanic Garden, Dumfries & Galloway, UK; 25 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Lammetje'

Squat, dense panicles; flowers white, ageing shell pink; stems tend to arch. Strikingly dwarf in its day, and while newer dwarfs (some with ‘Lammetje’ in their parentage) have made it less distinctive, it is still rated ‘one of the best small, compact cultivars’ by Hydrangea Derby (2023). Fairly early flowering, early July – mid September in the Chicago trial, where it was rated ‘good’. Selected 1995 or before by the de Belders of Arboretum Kalmthout, Belgium, with ‘Interhydia’ in its genetic heritage. A favourite of Jelena de Belder: ‘a very special plant, […] little lambs dancing about in joy. Very special’ (fide Wood 2010). Protected by US Plant Patent PP15395. (Hawke 2022; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 2004; Hydrangea Derby 2023; Google Patents 2023)

Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane' (LITTLE LIME®)in early flower (Morton Arboretum, Illinois). Image Jeff Franklin, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

The dense, squat panicles of Hydrangea paniculata 'Lammetje', whose white flowers turn shell pink (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Lammetje', an early dwarf cultivar whose stems tend to arch (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Lc No 11'

Dense, broadly conical to rounded panicles; flowers white, not ageing pink; early flowering is claimed. Selected 2014 by Alex Schoemaker of Living Creations, Boskoop, the Netherlands, part of the extensive LIVING® series. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent PP33365. (Association Shamrock 2022; Google Patents 2023; pers. obs. 2023)

Flowers of Hydrangea paniculata 'Lc No 11' ageing greenish white with scarcely any pink (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Lc No 12'

Dense, broadly conical to rounded panicles with only slightly more sterile than fertile flowers; flowers white, quickly ageing pink; early flowering, as well as better pinking than the older ‘Renhy’, are claimed. Selected 2017 by Alex Schoemaker. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent PP33256. (Association Shamrock 2022; Google Patents 2023; pers. obs. 2023)

A young example of Hydrangea paniculata 'Lc No 12' with the sterile flowers ageing pink (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Le Vasterival'

Open to half-open panicles with around 10% sterile flowers; sterile flowers noticeably large, white, with rather narrow sepals which tend to roll inwards from the margins, giving a very starry appearance, not turning pink. The habit is sometimes quite lax and open. Found in 2003 as a sport on an unnamed seedling of H.p. ‘Floribunda’ by Greta Sturdza in her garden Le Vasterival, Varengeville sur Mer, France. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent PP20272. (Hydrangea Derby 2023; Dirr 2021; Association Shamrock 2022; Google Patents 2023).

Hydrangea paniculata 'Le Vasterival' at the Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, UK (15 August 2018). Image John Anderson.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Le Vasterival' at the Yorkshire Arboretum, UK (9 August 2023). Image John Grimshaw.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Le Vasterival' pruned to a low stool (private garden, Argyll & Bute, UK; 22 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

The open panicles of Hydrangea paniculata 'Le Vasterival' with their large sterile flowers can be impressive (Yorkshire Arboretum, UK; 9 August 2023). Image John Grimshaw.

The sterile flowers of Hydrangea paniculata 'Le Vasterival' have remarkably long but proportionately narrow sepals (private garden, Argyll & Bute, UK; 22 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'LeeP1'

Very dense, large but rounded panicles; flowers white, not ageing pink at least in the heat of the American South, for which it was selected; strong stems. Selected 2008 by Robert ‘Buddy’ Lee, LA, United States. Protected by US Plant Patent PP28973. (Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

'LeeP2'

Very dense, long, conical panicles; flowers white, not ageing pink at least in the heat of the American South, for which it was selected, but sometimes browning; strong stems. Selected 2008 by Robert ‘Buddy’ Lee, LA, United States. Protected by US Plant Patent PP29751. (Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

'Levana'

Open panicles, with very large sterile flowers to 5 cm across, their sepals well separated, giving about 50% coverage of the panicle; flowers white at maturity and remaining so; sturdy, straight, greenish-brown stems; leaves rather pale, hanging, with incurved margins. More vigorous than some of the newer commercial selections, reaching perhaps 2 m with annual pruning. ‘One of the very best of the open-panicle white varieties’ (Hydrangea Derby 2023). Selected 2002 from seed set 1996, by Johan Possemiers, Arboretum Kalmthout, Belgium. Named for Araschnia levana, one of the map butterflies of Europe. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent PP22614. (Hydrangea Derby 2023; Association Shamrock 2022; Google Patents 2023)

Hydrangea paniculata 'Levana' has strong, straight stems (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Leaves of Hydrangea paniculata 'Levana' characteristically hang down and have incurved margins (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

The open panicles of Hydrangea paniculata 'Levana' have large sterile flowers, making a big impact (private garden, Argyll, UK; 22 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Limelight'

Very dense, broad panicles, lime green ageing cream then pink; stems greenish or reddish. Though the stems are quite strong, only medium pruning (to about 4 buds) reduces the chance of heavy heads flopping. Flowering in trials mid July – early October (Wisley), mid July – September (Euro), mid July – early October (Chicago). A first rate and hugely popular taller variety given the highest rating in all three trials. Selected by Peter Zwijnenburg, Boskoop, the Netherlands, 1986. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent PP 12874 (expired 2021). (Lancaster & Wesley 2008; Hoffman & Houtman 2007; Hawke 2022; Google Patents 2023).

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' flowers age to pink (Morton Arboretum, Illinois; 23 October 2014). Image Edward A. Hedborn Jr., Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

This Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' is pruned annually to achieve larger inflorescences (Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, UK; 27 August 2021). Image John Anderson.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' inflorescence before most buds have opened (private garden, Argyll & Bute, UK; 22 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Little pruned, Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' can make great impact, even though the inflorescences are rather smaller (Yorkshire Arboretum, UK; 9 August 2023). Image John Grimshaw.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' has broad, very dense panicles which open lime-green (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' flowers age through creamy, then pinkish shades (Darley Park, Derby, UK; 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.