PeeGee Hydrangea (Standard Tree Form)
Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora' · Deciduous Broadleaf (Hardwood)
Plant Family
Hydrangeaceae
Tree Category
Flowering Ornamental Tree
Variety / Cultivar
'Grandiflora' (commonly known as PeeGee). This cultivar is often trained into a single-trunk tree or 'standard' form as seen by the bamboo support stake in the image.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8; highly adaptable to cold climates.
About This Tree
An upright, fast-growing deciduous shrub or small tree with a rounded crown. In this standard form, it features a clear trunk supporting a dense, multi-stemmed head. It is famous for its large, cone-shaped (paniculate) white flower clusters that fade to pinkish-bronze as they age.
Leaf Characteristics
Leaves are simple, ovate to elliptic, and 3-6 inches long. They are medium green with serrated margins and a slightly rugose (wrinkled) texture. Arrangement is usually opposite or sometimes in whorls of three.
Bark Characteristics
Gray-brown bark that becomes slightly thin and flaky or shredded with age. Stems are relatively slender with prominent lenticels (pores) visible on younger wood.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China and Japan; widely adapted across temperate North America and Europe.
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; flowers in mid-to-late summer (July-September); enters dormancy in late autumn after leaves turn yellowish or bronze.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers consistent moisture and well-drained soil but is more drought-tolerant than most other hydrangea species once established.
Mature Size
Mature height of 10-25 feet with a spread of 8-15 feet. Rapid growth rate (up to 2 feet per year). Lifespan of 30-50 years.
Special Characteristics
Noted for extreme cold hardiness, tolerance of urban pollution, and spectacular late-summer floral display. Extremely easy to prune to maintain its tree-like shape.
Wildlife & Ecology
Attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies with its late-season blooms. Provides occasional cover for small songbirds within its dense canopy.