{"product_id":"strawberry-sundae-hydrangea","title":"Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Compact Cream-to-Strawberry Hydrangea for Smaller Minnesota Gardens\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrawberry Sundae Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Rensun') packs the multicolor magic of a big panicle hydrangea into a tidy 4–5 foot frame. Dense cone-shaped blooms open creamy white, then ripen to pink and rich strawberry red from the bottom up. As a panicle type it's reliably cold-hardy and blooms every year on new wood. Whether you're filling a smaller border in Edina, lining a foundation in Woodbury, or adding a cut-flower shrub in Maple Grove — Strawberry Sundae delivers a full-season color show in compact zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStrawberry Sundae Hydrangea Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHydrangea paniculata 'Rensun'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePanicle Hydrangea, Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — compact, sturdy, upright habit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part sun (6+ hours ideal) for the heaviest bloom and best color.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Consistent moisture the first year; established plants tolerate average rainfall.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — fully hardy and reliable here\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable — tolerates Minnesota clay-loam and most soils; prefers moist, well-draining ground.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — green leaves drop in fall; dried flower heads persist for winter interest.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F. Blooms every year in Minnesota — one of the hardiest hydrangeas.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot deer-resistant — protect from browsing in high-pressure areas.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDense panicles opening creamy white, aging to pink and strawberry red, midsummer into fall, on new wood.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStrawberry Sundae Hydrangea Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSmaller borders and foundations\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts compact size makes Strawberry Sundae a perfect fit for a front border, foundation planting, or narrow bed where full-size panicles would overwhelm. The strong stems hold the blooms upright without flopping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCut and dried flowers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe color-shifting panicles are excellent for fresh bouquets and dry beautifully — cut them as they take on their pink-to-red blush for the richest color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLow hedges and groupings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlanted 3–4 feet apart, it forms a flowering low hedge that bounces back fast after a hard Minnesota winter because it blooms on new wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFall (late August–early October) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before ground freeze (typically mid-November in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws) is the second-best window, giving the shrub a full season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid summer planting (June–August) when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container. Heavy clay benefits from even wider digging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePick a sunny spot — at least 6 hours of sun for the fullest bloom and best red coloring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace 3–4 feet apart for a low hedge; give specimens room to reach full width.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter to avoid ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark, kept 2 inches off the stems. Prune by up to a third in early spring — it blooms on new wood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days; hydrangeas wilt fast in heat, so don't let it dry out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished plants need deep watering during dry spells and summer heat. Panicle hydrangeas are tougher than bigleaf types but still bloom best with steady moisture. Let natural rainfall do the rest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf used, place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk and keep the root zone evenly moist. Always winterize the system — blow out the lines before freeze and shut timers off by early October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Strawberry Sundae survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily — panicle hydrangeas are hardy to zone 3, the toughest of all hydrangeas, and bloom reliably in the Twin Cities every year. No winter protection needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big does it really get?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt stays a tidy 4–5 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide — noticeably smaller than full-size panicles like Limelight or Vanilla Strawberry, which makes it ideal for compact spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen and how do I prune it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn early spring before growth starts, cut it back by up to a third for strong stems and big blooms. It flowers on new wood, so spring pruning never costs you flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy are my blooms more white than red?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pink and red tones deepen with strong sun and the cool nights of late summer. More sun and the natural seasonal cooling bring out the strawberry color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVanilla Strawberry Hydrangea — a full-size cream-to-strawberry panicle for larger borders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLittle Lime Hydrangea — a compact lime-to-pink panicle for small spaces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54312926347569,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54312926380337,"sku":null,"price":37.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/strawberry-sundae-hydrangea.jpg?v=1779596782","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/strawberry-sundae-hydrangea","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}