Limelight is the panicle hydrangea that changed how the South grows hydrangeas: huge, football-shaped blooms open cool celadon-green in midsummer, then age through cream to pink and burgundy by frost. It builds into a substantial shrub 6 to 8 feet tall, and the big heads cut well, fresh or dried.

Unlike the blue mopheads, it blooms on new wood and takes much more sun; here, morning sun with some afternoon shade keeps the flowers freshest. Prune it back by a third in late winter and it rebuilds and blooms on schedule every year.