The Long-Lasting Hydrangea Variety That'll Add Gorgeous Drama To Your Sunny Yard

Measuring around 6 feet high, panicle hydrangeas are dramatic enough just with their stature. Topped with outsized fluffy, color-changing blossoms that last months at a time, panicle hydrangeas are a showstopper for any yard. Also known as Zinfin Doll hydrangeas, these flowers are known for more than just a prolonged performance. Starting the season with modest white blooms, the same blossoms gradually take on a brilliant pink hue starting at their base. After an eye-pleasing period of pink and white, the flowers mature into a deep reddish pink that lasts into the fall. 

These flowering perennials can withstand frigid winters and bud reliably every spring. They are hardy enough to survive winters in places like northern Minnesota and the Montana plains. This sun-loving shrub is a low-maintenance, high-return addition to your garden in most parts of the U.S. With just a little bit of attention, Zinfin Doll hydrangeas will brighten your outdoor space for years.

Zinfin Dolls check many boxes on the list of what makes an ideal flowering plant. It's a perennial, flourishing year after year after you plant it. That translates into time and money savings, two things gardeners lament every summer. Panicle hydrangeas are a smart way to landscape your yard on a budget. Once planted, these floral powerhouses will settle in without needing a whole lot from you. This native of Asia makes a great plant for garden borders or along walls, and cuttings last long in vases and can be propagated easily.

Panicle hydrangeas blossom earlier than other hydrangeas and hold their color-changing flowers for three months or more. While they are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, you can also grow Zinfin Dolls in pots on your patio in zones as low as 1a as long as you bring the plant inside for the winter. Caring for hydrangeas indoors in colder climates is a way to increase your enjoyment of this plant while you wait for your area's last frost.

Hydrangeas of all kinds are known to be easy to grow and take care of. Scout out a spot in your yard that gets lots of sun; if you live in a colder region, plant panicle hydrangeas where they will receive full sun for at least six hours a day.  Zinfin Doll flowers don't last as long under extremely hot sun, so if you live in a warm area, opt to plant in a space with morning rays and shade later in the day. As long as the ground stays moist and is well-drained, panicle hydrangeas aren't too picky about the type of soil you plant them in. They can grow beautifully in neutral or slightly acidic soil that's sandy, loamy, or full of clay. 

Invest a bit of time early in the spring or late in the fall by pruning your shrub. Trimming the branches by a third can encourage growth and better blooms on your panicle hydrangea for the upcoming season. It's also helpful to give them a bit of insulation with 2 or 3 inches of mulch around their base.