Little Lamb® Hydrangea

The Little Lamb Hydrangea really lives up to its name. It looks exactly like a fluffy flock of sheep skipping across your bushes. It has this unique look because the flowers are much smaller than they are on other panicle hydrangeas, although the flower heads are larger than in many others, like the old-fashioned PG Hydrangea. It forms a slightly smaller bush too, growing about 4 feet tall, or a little more, depending on how it is pruned. The flowers are green when they first appear, but quickly turn white and fluffy – a truly charming sight. As the summer comes to an end they turn pink and then red, adding to their interest and beauty. This is an easily grown shrub that thrives all across the country, except for zone 9. It is hardy even in zone 3, making it very valuable if you live in a colder area. Plant it among other shrubs, especially those that flower earlier, as it will extend the seasons of interest. Use it for an informal hedge, or as a specimen – in the ground, or in a large pot.

• Small flowers make the large flower heads look like fluffy sheep
• Easy to grow in any garden
• Terrific way to bring late color to your planting
• Flowers go from green to white, to pink and then red
• Very hardy, down to minus 30 or lower

Grow the Little Lamb Hydrangea in any garden soil that is not constantly wet and soggy. Plant it in sun or light shade. It will benefit from afternoon shade in hot areas. This easy-to-grow plant has no significant pest or diseases, and it grows almost anywhere. Once established it has some drought resistance, but it grows best with a regular supply of water, in a richer soil. The only care needed is a simple annual pruning in spring, as the new growth first appears. The level of trimming controls the size of flower heads – hard pruning produces larger heads, but fewer of them.