PlantFiles: Panicle Hydrangea, Tree Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva'

I have tried to kill this thing, being a novice when doing so, i simply cut it down to the ground. our builder put it in with the landscape pkg that came with the house. i have the largest most beautiful blooming one of all the houses in the subdivision that also had this in their landscape pkg. probably because of my agressive misguided pruning. it sets large blooms in summer that stay attractive all winter. it gets full sun (morning thru evening- southern exposure). no problems aside from it is a haven for hundreds of bees - and some weird large gnat-looking thing, none of which seem to be aggressive. it's placed next to a gate and walkway and we have yet to be stung by irritated bees. Every spring I cut it down now to about 2ft. and by summer it's over 6ft. tall. I plan to move it this fall to a less traveled area to avoid the bees. dependable beauty!

I have a very shady spot where I put this hydrangea. This will be the third summer, and it has yet to bloom, although it has finally started to get larger. I had the same problem with 'Endless Summer' -- I was almost ready to dig it up when it really took off. So I'm hoping this will do the same.
Update - this did bloom in 2011. The shrub is not full to the ground, probably because it is in too much shade, but it is getting fairly large. I've pruned it into more of a tree, and I think it will be just fine.

I've had it 3 years now, pruned to a standard. Placed it next to my house, surrounded by sidewalk. When I bought it it had huge blooms. It doesn't grow, and the blooms are tiny.

Planted last year along with Limelight and it's growing beautfully with an abundant of blooms

I have it growing in shade under oaks and maples. It seems tolerant of drought once established. It was rather sparse until I tipped each branch back one year. The next year it was much fuller and has bloomed well ever since.

Bought one at a sale-half off and it has grown beautifully . Hasnt flowered yet . Looking to buy another to use as side plant entrance to my garden

I have not had any problems with this shrub. It is very nice!

Information from both "Hydrangeas for American Gardens," by Michael A. Dirr (2004) and "Encyclopedia of Hydrangeas" C.J. and D.M. Van Gelderen (2004 - Timber Press).

This shrub grows up to 10 feet. The panicles appear late in the summer, and the flowering period can go well into October and possibly beyond in the right climate (Nantucket is suggested). There are a mixture of fertile and sterile flowers in the panicles, but the sepals are not tightly packed, giving an 'airy' impression. Depending on weather condition (cooler), the sepals turn pinkish. This selection has gained momentum in the nursery and landscape trades.

Van Gelderen says that the origin of 'Tardiva' is uncertain. According to one source (Bean 1991), it is a French introduction. Van Gelderen's information states that it was raised by Crown Commisioners, Windsor, UK, before 1975.

This cultivar has flowers similar to the more familiar Floribunda, but they develop later in the season. It can be trained as a standard or allowed to grow as a multi-stemmed shrub.