Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom'

Description: This introduction of Hydrangea is noted for producing the largest conical panicles of creamy-white flowers from midsummer into autumn. A vigorous, upright to spreading, deciduous shrub.

Uses: Good for woodland planting and for the larger borders in dappled shade.

Climate/Position: • Full sun or light, dappled shade.

Height/Spread: 2.5 x 2 metres if left unpruned, but reaching only 1.2 metres if pruned annually.

Soil Requirements: Well drained, fertile soil

Pruning: Plants may be left unpruned or cut back only lightly, however in recent trials then hard pruned plants, cut back to a bud 30 - 40 cm above the ground in March, showed increased size of the flower heads and also prevented plants from getting too large. Prune in March as flowers are produced on the growth made between Spring and Summer.

Special Requirements:

Additional Interest: In 1862, the German physician Philipp Franz von Siebold brought the earliest introductions of H. paniculata from Japanese gardens and on a later visit returned to Europe with the cultivar now known as ‘Grandiflora’.

It was only in the in the 1970s that any new forms were introduced and then in the 1990s some outstanding new cultivars were introduced by the Boskoop nurseryman Peter Zwijnenburg from seed selection including ‘Phantom’. An evaluation trial at RHS Garden Wisley from 2003 to 2008 gave the Award of Garden Merit.