Virginia Tech Dendrology

panicle hydrangea Hydrangeaceae Hydrangea paniculata Siebold symbol: HYPA
Leaf: Opposite, simple, serrated, occasionally whorled, ovate to elliptical, 3 to 6 inches long, green above, lighter below.
Flower: White, in clusters, 6 to 10 inches long, outer sterile flowers are very showy, inner flowers smaller and creamy, later in the season the flowers change color to a purplish pink.
Fruit: Dry brown capsule, not showy.
Twig: Stout, brown to reddish brown, lenticels, leaf scar shallowly V-shaped with a short conical bud sitting in the V, exfoliates with age.
Bark: Gray-brown, irregularly furrowed.
Form: A large upright shrub reaching 10 to 15 feet tall, multi-stemmed, arching, spreading crown.
Looks like: wild hydrangea - bigleaf hydrangea - oakleaf hydrangea

Additional Range Information: Hydrangea paniculata is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information