Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are still in full color this time of year — their cone-shaped blooms open white in mid-summer and age to a soft pink through fall, one of the longest bloom windows of any hydrangea type.

Unlike bigleaf hydrangeas, which set next year's flower buds on old wood in late summer, panicle hydrangeas bloom on new growth each spring. That's the key difference gardeners often get wrong: it means you can prune a panicle hydrangea in late winter or early spring without losing a single bloom — the University of Georgia Extension flags this as the biggest source of confusion between hydrangea types.

Plant in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil, and water deeply during the first season while roots establish. Once settled, it's one of the more forgiving hydrangeas when it comes to pruning timing.

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Source: University of Georgia Cooperative Extension — The Comprehensive Guide to Pruning Hydrangeas