Hydrangea paniculata 'Silver Dollar'

Description: An excellent new introduction of Hydrangea noted for its dense trusses of creamy-white flowers which are on display from the middle of summer until early autumn. The flowers (which are in fact modified bracts) gradually become pinker as they age.

Uses: Good in a mixed border where they are ideal for providing late colour.

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

Height/Spread: 3x3 metres.

Soil Requirements: Well drained, fertile soil

Pruning: Plants may be left unpruned or cut back only lightly, however in recent trials 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 ‘Silver Dollar’. An evaluation trial at RHS Garden Wisley from 2003 to 2008 gave the Award of Garden Merit.