Panicle Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata Siebold

Family: Hydrangeaceae

Blooms on New Wood
Cold Hardy
Large Flower Clusters

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Toxic to pets

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

not applicable: not a food plant

Hazard type

The NC State page lists no poison information. That is not a statement that the plant is safe.

Hazard route

Not yet checked.

How complete this information is

We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets

NC State Extension states directly that this species is 'poisonous to humans' and problematic for cats, dogs and horses. ASPCA's own Hydrangea page names Hydrangea arborescens specifically (cyanogenic glycosides; vomiting, depression, diarrhea; 'cyanide intoxication is rare: usually produces more of a gastrointestinal disturbance'), applied here at genus level since no ASPCA page exists for H. paniculata itself: consistent with how PlotAndPetal's bigleaf hydrangea entry already handles the same whole-genus gap.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 3a-8b: NC State calls it 'one of winter's hardiest hydrangeas.' Note this tops out cooler than central Florida; it is not a Central Florida landscape plant, more a cooler-zone one.
Mature size: 8-15 feet tall and 6-25 feet wide, sometimes grown as a small tree; rapid growth rate (NC State Extension).
Where it comes from: Eastern and southern China, Japan, Sakhalin, Taiwan and the Kuril Islands (NC State Extension).

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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