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Limelight Hydrangea Care: A Late Summer Update

ByAnn Drake

In this post:  A limelight hydrangea care update. Hard pruning information & easy tips for growing large limelight hydrangea flowers, plus a limelight hydrangea centerpiece.

limelight hydrangea bushes in landscaping

My gardening career has seen its share of ups and downs. I’ve said many times that I have had more failures than successes, but I keep plugging away. I’ve had several questions about the state of my limelight hydrangea bushes, so I thought I would give you all an update. 

*Affiliate links included. Click HERE for my disclosure statement.

Limelight Hydrangea Care

Before I get to the update, we need to go back to last summer. By early September, all the stems of my limelight hydrangea bushes were laying on the ground. The blooms were just too heavy and big for the stems to hold them upright. I researched and asked my garden blogger friends, but there was no definitive answer as to how to solve the problem. One of my friends said that it could very well be a glitch in the cultivar, and they will always have blooms that the stems cannot support. I am not an expert, but that comment made the most sense to me. 

limelight hydrangea in bloom

So by late September, I had to make a decision and plan my limelight hydrangea care. I felt I had three choices.

  • I could leave the limelight hydrangea bushes alone and hope for the best.
  • I could lightly prune the blooms.
  • I could hard prune them so new stems would emerge that would hopefully be stronger.

limelight hydrangea flowers

I chose the third option and cut the limelight hydrangea bushes back almost to the root. I had no idea if I was making the right choice, but it made no sense to let the stems lie on the ground all winter and possibly rot. Like many times in my gardening career, I took a chance and was prepared to face the disappointment if I made the wrong choice. 

limelight hydrangea flowers

Thankfully, I can now say that cutting back the limelight hydrangea bushes was the right thing to do. The blooms are still huge and heavy, but the majority of them are standing tall. A few thinner stems around the bottom have fallen over, but that’s understandable…and frankly, I think it’s just something I will have to live with. I do wish the bushes would fill out. I’d rather that they be shorter and full instead of tall and skinny. Maybe next year!

limelight hydrangea bushes in front of house

Growing Limelight Hydrangea Flowers

Getting limelight hydrangea bushes to bloom has never been a problem for me. I fertilize them with Jack’s in the early spring and without fail, by late July, I have massive blooms. For the first time in my life, I have these gorgeous limelight hydrangea flowers and I am so grateful. But they also make me a little sad, because I feel like the bushes are struggling under the weight of the blooms. 

I am definitely hanging in there with these bushes and have no plans to replace them. I like a challenge, and maybe I’ll get this weak stem issue figured out some day. If anyone has advice or words of wisdom, please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you!

Limelight Hydrangea Centerpiece

limelight hydrangea centerpiece in ironstone tureen

I didn’t want to cut all the blooms from the limelight hydrangea bushes, but I couldn’t resist cutting a few. I chose some that were fresh and white, along with a few that were beginning to dry. I used my bargain ironstone tureen and put the arrangement together using this method. The limelight hydrangea flowers were heavy, but with a little adjusting, I was able to get them to settle into the tureen. 

Long Lasting Cut Hydrangeas Tip Printable Checklist

limelight hydrangea centerpiece with eucalyptus in ironstone tureen

I thought the arrangement needed a little height and had my heart set on eucalyptus…but of course I couldn’t find any that was fresh. I opted for some faux eucalyptus that I got at Hobby Lobby and I think it looks almost real. You’ll be seeing it again in some of my fall decor. 

Shop this Limelight Hydrangea post:

Mailbox | Porch lights | Address plaque| Door color | Wreath hanger | Door hardware | Door wreath | Basket tray | Ironstone tureen | Botanical prints | Dining room chandelier | Board and Batten | 

Speaking of fall, this may be my last summer decor post for the year. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not ready for summer to be over just yet. We do need to move forward and plan ahead just a little…but savor these last few weeks of summer!

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50 Comments

  1. Christy Kimbrell says:

    So glad that I saw this..
    Last summer I had the same thing happen to Me😐
    As these were new for Me I thought maybe I shouldn’t have fertilized them .
    I did prune them back a lot and so far this spring they are doing well.
    It is good to know that I didn’t do anything wrong .
    And Me..My daughter and 2 neighbors All had a nice vase full(I had several plants!!)
    Thanks for this article☺️

    Reply

  2. This sounds more like a nutrient problem than a genetic, sunlight, or water problem. You might send in a soil sample to your local ag extension office and see what your base percent saturation of potassium and calcium are currently at. Calcium is the main component that strengthen the plant’s cell walls, just like our bones. And potassium tends to add girth to stems and such. We had a similar problem with our corn until we fixed our shortage of both us those nutrients available to the plant.

    Reply

  3. I have also struggled with Limelight for years! The stems are taller than I am and many fall to the ground without actually breaking! Last summer I put up a stake and put some wire around them. It looked better for awhile but wasn’t the full solution I was hoping for. We get full sun in this garden and I have a sprinkler system. Not sure what else to do!

    Reply
  4. Diane LaSauce says:

    Ann, I am growing Little Lime hydrangeas here (two years old) and have the same problem of heavy blooms toppling the stems to the ground. The stems have no memory.
    I plan to cut many now for cut stem bouquets at my farmer’s market, and will try a wreath, using fresh to see if they will dry in place, rather than after drying. Have you ever tried this? I dried some blooms last year and they totally disintegrated when I attempted to place in a wreath.
    Nice to find your pretty blog.
    Diane
    Central VA

    Reply
  5. Cecilia from Georgia says:

    Hi Ann, I was looking on Pinterest for Limelight Hydrangea care and was glad to find a post by someone I trust and are familiar with. I enjoy your blog and have learned so much from you. I just planted several LLH in a bed with full sunshine(YEA!) Now, they will be watered from the irrigation system and I am concerned that they will get too much water. Do you think it is possible to water the LLH too much? I am in SW Georgia where the summer temps are brutal and last until late October. Your garden is so lovely and your home is so elegant. I love your free printables too!! Have a blessed Mother’s Day!

    Reply
    1. Ann Drake says:

      I’m sure it’s possible, but in Georgia, it’s probably unlikely. An irrigation system is the perfect way to control your watering. I wish I had one!

      Reply
  6. Madeline Rivers says:

    Maybe a peony support would help. They are round with a lattice framework on the inside of the ring. I made mine from the largest section of a tomato cage. Cut the top two smaller ring off and wove wire inside for the grid. Those stems growing outside were tied to the ring. The support disappears behind the leaves but hold the stems upright!

    Reply
  7. Yolanda Gordon says:

    Your Limelight’s are beautiful! Call me nuts or crazy, but at the beginning of July my husband and I bought three large Limelight Hydrangea plants and planted them in our front yard. I live in a suburb of Portland Oregon and in summer we are in the high 90’s to 100 till nearly mid September. These poor flowers have had there share of direct sun and heat. We have been watering them 3x a day and my husband got creative and made large umbrella shades we have been using in the middle of the day. Most of the flowers are standing tall but one plant was struggling with the flowers falling down to the ground. We staked them and tied them up to help support them. This hasn’t hurt the plant one bit! We also had to stake our Crepe Myrtle she started tipping from the front and side. So far so good. I can’t wait to see how these plants do next year. I love my hydrangeas and have several different kinds in the back yard. I read your posts Ann and feel you are a top notch decorator and gardener. I have really learned a lot. Thank you for all the beautiful work you do and share with us! Can’t hardly wait to see your Fall posts!!

    Reply

  8. Those are beautiful hydrangeas! Ann, you could put a bamboo rod on each side of the hydrangeas, and tie strong fishing line across to make a support for them. You could do one in front, and one in back, if needed. This would barely be noticeable. Or, sometimes I just stick a bamboo rod or green garden stake in amongst my tall plants and use a green jute to tie them loosely to it. For the small hydrangea blooms falling over at the bottom, you could even build a little stick or wooden planter “fence” to go around the bottom of the bush. I would make it expandable to move out as the bush gets larger. I have used fishing line (or green garden jute if the stems are tender) to tie a great big circle loop around a whole clump of tall flowers to keep them from falling over. Then, you can tie it to a heavy brick behind the clump, or even onto the bottom of a porch railing. Heck, you could even put a small bench, with a nice back on it, in front of the bush for the blooms to lean on. I am a gardener who lives in Oklahome, where …..”the wind comes sweeping down the plain…” Good luck! Tina :)

    Reply
  9. Joan Kraft says:

    Ann…my suggestion for next year is to not do the hard prune to the ground. I have found that you prune about two thirds of the way down when the plant is still dormant before it produces buds. The old wood is what gives your plant the shape and structure and strength to hold the new growth that produces the flowers. Your plant will become taller so this may not work for your site. I hope you give this approach a try next year.

    Reply
    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Joan…that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m not going to hard prune this year for sure!

      Reply

  10. In regard to the Limelights falling over from the weight of the blossoms, plant Annabelle hydrangeas in lieu of Limelights. The blooms are more rounded and are not quite as heavy as Limelight blossoms. In addition, the Annabelles dry beautifully when they start to turn green. I prune them back every late fall to almost the ground and they return more beautiful than ever.

    Reply
    1. Ann Drake says:

      If I can’t get these limelights strong enough I may have to take them out and plant Annabelles. I love them too!

      Reply

  11. Delightful post as I too am having trouble with my hydrangea plants.
    However mine (gift) were hot house grown from a florist, that I planted
    Outside. It has been if’y but, doing well this year and with luck next year they will be even better.
    New to your Blog and can’t get enough!
    Thank You for sharing

    Reply

  12. I bought the Little Limes (smaller version of Limelights) and they are also a bit weak stemed but beautifully full with flowers. I thought it was just because this is their first year in the ground.

    Reply
  13. Gail True says:

    Thanks for sharing about your limelight hydrangeas. I have had the same dilemma as I would prefer shorter and fuller bushes. I am pretty radical when pruning my bushes…. maybe it will take a few years for the bush to develop stronger stems. Let’s hope so!!!

    Reply
  14. Carole Larsen says:

    I also have many limelight bushes and they look just like yours; the lower stems lying on the ground. It is disappointing to see them lying there instead of looking perky and beautiful. I am going to try pruning them as you did and see what happen. Thanks for the post.

    Reply
  15. Barbara Vance says:

    Ann,
    For the naked ladies growing in my yard. My hubby loosely secured them with fishing line. It is invisible to the eye and gives good support when attached to the railing. I enjoy your posts .

    Reply
  16. Merri Jo Freese says:

    Check out Garden Answer on Facebook. I was friends with this young gal’s mother and we ended up having babies on the same day. Laura is a delight, raised in a gardening family, and a wonderful Christian woman who loves gardening. She worked at the garden center where her parents are part owners and I visited frequently before we moved. It has been so exciting to see her “bloom” and grow in her own career. She just did a post about hydrangeas. Enjoy!

    Reply
  17. Paulette Morris says:

    My limelights are at least 10 inches across. Every spring I cut them way back to about 2 inches. I never fertilize, too lazy, but they come back every year. When they get about 15 inches from the ground, I coral them and tie them in a hugh bundle so they won’t fall because they do get heavy, especially after it rains.

    Reply
  18. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says:

    Ann, your table centrepiece is so beautiful!

    Reply
  19. Lucia Donahower says:

    Beautiful plants and arrangement!!
    Have a good week
    Lucy

    Reply
  20. Carol@BlueskyatHome says:

    Beautiful arrangement of flowers, Ann. I hate to cut my hydrangeas too since I have only one bush. Your centerpiece is lovely with the white ironstone urn.

    Reply

  21. I love these hydrangeas also but have not planted any in my yard yet. We just moved two years ago and I have plans for several plants in the backyard. I am always interested in your advice as you seem to have a green thumb. Thanks for sharing. Jean

    Reply

  22. Gorgeous Ann, I believe that cutting back is the right thing to do to strengthen the plant and encourage it to fill out.

    Reply

  23. Any blog post that has the word “hydrangea” in it draws my attention. I’ve noticed that my endless summer hydrangea is kinda laying on the ground too. You were brave to cut the plant all the way to the ground. It is a very pretty plant with pretty blooms. I think hydrangeas rival roses as garden favorites.

    Reply

  24. I like the addition of the faux eucalyptus to your arrangement. I love limelight hydrangeas and planted a couple of bushes about three years ago. They looked great the first year, but we haven’t had any blooms this year at all. We also have another variety that leafs out every year but never blooms. I will try the Jack’s fertilizer next spring. Which formula do you use, the 20-20-20, or the 10-30-20? I am so envious of everyone’s hydrangeas this time of year. We have had such bad luck growing them, but I’m not ready to give up!

    Reply

  25. You are my go-to person with limelight’s! I think you made the right decision regarding last years pruning. They are gorgeous….especially in your arrangement. Last year I grew my own eucalyptus…it was a huge success. Going to do it again next year. Enjoy your day! ;)

    Reply

  26. The arrangement is beautiful, hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers.Enjoy those blooms !

    Reply

  27. Ann, that arrangement is gorgeous! The eucalyptus looks almost bluish and paired with the limelight color of those immense hydrangeas, it’s a perfect combination. Good luck with your bushes. I know nothing about hydrangeas but from the look of things, I’d say you made the right decision. Have a blessed day!

    Reply

  28. It is very frustrating when plants don’t perform as expected. Perhaps a thin plastic coated wire(green) wrapped around the plant inconspicuosly to give some support would help. I’ve done that with success and a much improved appearance. I struggle with the Cityline variety of Hydrangeas that just don’t live up to their hype. Supposedly very hardy for my region, but they die back too much despite proper winterization and they only bloom on old wood. Guess its time to dig them out. Sigh……

    Reply

    1. I thought limelight grow on new wood. I cut mine very early spring or late winter and it grows into a huge bush in new wood

      Reply

  29. I planted a Little Limelight hydrangea last summer. I, too, cut it way back in early fall. It was the right decision. It grew back full and has been loaded with blooms all summer. Love your centerpiece!

    Reply
  30. Missi Baker says:

    When during the season did you cut them back? Yep…same issues with mine! 😢

    Reply
    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Missi…I cut them all the way back last fall after the blooms had all dried. It was probably late September or early October.

      Reply

  31. Ann,
    Do you have any tips for decorating small spaces or ideas on how to make a rental feel more like home?

    Reply

  32. Hi Ann, I have had the same issue with my Limelight’s. I wasn’t sure what to do this year, but my landscaper solved my question. He accidentally trimmed them to half their size. Unfortunately I only have a few small flowers this summer. I am hoping next years plants will be much stronger. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

    Reply
    1. Ann Drake says:

      I am going to try this and see what happens!

      Reply

  33. Hi Ann! I planted 2 limelight hydrangea plants several years ago, one next to my shed & the other in my garden. I used a large tomato wire cage to help support the one in the garden and that has been helpful. The one next to my shed is getting large (over 6’) and it took several years for them both to get established and bloom. These are one my favorite flowers along with peonies! Yours are stunning!

    Reply

  34. Are there any garden frames or stakes you could use to support the hydrangeas ? Maybe you could place bamboo stakes and tie with green or natural jute twine.

    Reply
    1. Ann Drake says:

      I have used twine to tie the stems together. The stakes are a good idea too!

      Reply

  36. Limelight’s in Georgia can take more sun than one would think..ours are in full bloom now. They grow very tall even in this heat..I have never pruned

    Reply

  37. Lovely. Lovely I purchase limelight last year after you showed yours. One of the best plants I ever purchased. Love them

    Reply
  38. PAULA FREY says:

    They make a wire plant support ring that has legs that push into the dirt that could be used for supporting the stems. A little pricey..
    Alternative – use a wire tomato cage cut to length you desire.

    Reply

  39. I’m glad that worked for you to cut them back hard, Ann – I do think they look wonderful this year! I had really good luck with the smaller version of Limelight, ‘Little Lime.’ It did eventually get too big for that space (it’s not as dwarf as I thought, lol), but it topped out at about 5 ft (vs. Limelight’s 8 ft) and was always full and held the stems upright. The smaller blossoms were at the bottom, so they didn’t flop over as much unless we had a lot of rain. I pruned each year to about 2-3 ft. I hope to plant it again in our new farmhouse – somewhere the deer can’t get it, ha!

    Reply

  40. Your limelight’s are beautiful Ann….& the arrangement as well..Wish I had room to grow them!

    Reply

  41. Those blooms are beautiful! I don’t know anything about hydrangeas, except that I love them. I live in a desert so while they would only do well here in the shade and heavy water, I haven’t tried growing them.

    Your eucalyptus looked familiar and now I see why. I got the same sprigs from hobby lobby 2 weeks ago for some faux arrangements I made. They look incredibly realistic. They look stunning with your blooms!

    Reply

  42. This is about the falling over hydrangea bushes. Tie them up! Get a stake from you favorite garden canter, pound it into the ground behind the plant and get some string or what ever and tie around the whole bush. Too late for this year but maybe next time.
    I’m a native southern california gal so I have no idea what you guys do for winter gardens. Good Luck, Linda

    Reply

    1. Even though this was posted last summer, I thought I’d reply. I have grown Limelights for about 15 years.The trick seems to be to do both, stake and prune partially. Only cutting it back partially each fall or spring allows the remaining stems to continue to grow and harden into mature woody growth that can support the weight of the blooms. It will also encourage branching. The trick is to stake the stems until they harden. You may also cut off any weaker side-shoots that flop, and the plant will put its energy into the remaining blooms and stems. Hope this helps!

      Reply