Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Ilvobo’ aka Bobo®
Type of Plant: A dwarf version of the bone-hardy (zones 3-8) Hydrangea paniculata.
Why I Love This: So many people love Hydrangeas in foundation plantings, flower gardens or pots, but many of them get too large. Bobo grows to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide so it fits in a variety of landscapes. Like others in this species, Bobo blooms on new growth so you can prune it back in the spring if you want to. And like other paniculatas, the flowers take on a pink tone as they age in the fall.
A Word to the Wise: Grow this plant in places that get at least a half-day of sun. Shape it in the spring.
I’ve had this shrub in a container for four years and every year it shines. Now that it’s in a clay pot I’ve brought it into the garage for the winter, but I might plant it into the ground this fall…decisions, decisions.
