What is the difference between hydrangea shrubs and hydrangea trees?
Knowledgebase
Hydrangeas #876772
Asked July 11, 2024, 12:10 AM EDT
What is the difference between hydrangea shrubs and hydrangea trees?
Crow Wing CountyMinnesota
Expert Response
The simple answer is pruning. Some hydrangeas can be pruned to form a tree, selecting a main stem and removing all side stems. Only panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) can be effectively trained into tree forms. They can grow to 8 or 10 feet when pruned into a tree form.
It will not if you regularly prune it to maintain the tree-like appearance. Remove any sprouts or newly-emerging branches along the trunk to keep the tree form.