I have inherited two beautiful shrubs which I would like to have identified so that I know when and if to prune them. I have attached pictures below. Thank you for your help!
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners.
The shrub on your picture is a Hydrangea paniculata. The common name, panicle hydrangea, refers to the cone shaped of the flower head. The PeeGee or ‘Grandiflora’ hydrangea is the most popular cultivar of panicle hydrangeas.
Bloom occurs on current season’s growth, so prune as needed in late winter to early spring (never in summer). Larger flower panicles can be obtained by thinning the plants to 5-10 primary shoots. In full bloom, the weight of the flower panicles will typically cause the branches to arch downward.
For more information and references:
- https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c313
- https://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/paniculata.html
- https://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/index.html
Enjoy your beautiful hydrangeas!