Hydrangea ‘White Wedding’ – by Steve Huddleston

The two most popular kinds of hydrangeas grown in Texas are mophead hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla, and oakleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia.

Mopheads are often sold as Mother’s Day gifts. Their huge, colorful heads are their main attraction. However, this hydrangea suffers during Texas summers outside of East Texas because it requires so much water to maintain its good looks.

Oakleaf hydrangea, native to East Texas, is a better choice farther west, but still it demands the right conditions.

White Wedding panicle hydrangea is well suited to larger parts of Texas. All images are clickable for a larger view.

Then there is a third species of hydrangea that shows promise for Texas. Panicle hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata, is native to China and Japan. This species is a vigorous, upright, rapid-growing deciduous shrub that features oval, dark green leaves and upright, conical flower panicles 6-8 in. long. The panicles contain both fertile and sterile flowers, and they bloom mid-summer into fall. ‘Limelight’ and ‘Little Lime’ are two cultivars of this species.

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‘LeeP1’, or White Wedding hydrangea as it’s known commercially, is an upright selection of panicle hydrangea that features oversized, conical clusters of sterile white flowers during the summer. These terminal panicles of flowers reach around 6 in. long and are held on sturdy stems that support the flower heads well. The showy flowers are excellent for fresh or dried arrangements. White Wedding assumes a compact shape and reaches a mature size of 4-6 ft. tall and 3-5 ft. wide.

White Wedding floral heads are quite showy, and the plant is dependable as well.

Plant White Wedding where it gets full morning and even early afternoon sun. It will need protection from the sun mid-afternoon on.

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Plant it in highly organic, well-draining soil, and apply mulch 1-2 in. deep around the plant, avoiding the area closest to the stems. Fertilize it yearly in early spring. Pruning is not required unless you need to control height. Dead-heading to remove spent flower heads, however, will promote additional blooms.

A planting of White Wedding panicle hydrangea in a landscape done by Steve Huddleston.

Here’s what you’ll want to know….
• Scientific name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LeeP1’
• Common name: White Wedding hydrangea
• Plant family: Hydrangeaceae
• Hardiness Zones: 4-9 (anywhere in Texas)
• Blooms on current season’s growth, so prune as needed in late winter.
• Deer resistant and tolerant of air pollution

Posted by Steve Huddleston

About the Author

Steve Huddleston served as Senior Horticulturist at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden before his retirement. He then returned to the Garden as Public Relations Manager. He retired from that second position as well, but don’t expect to see him in the domino hall. Steve manages his own landscape design business which still gives him an opportunity to create beauty with plants. And, Grandpa Steve is going to be spending special family time in the future as well. And, of course, writing for e-gardens monthly.

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