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Key characteristics

Family: Hydrangeaceae
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Width: 3 to 5 feet
Flower color: Bright pink blooms that maintain color throughout the season
Foliage color: Dark green, with a crinkled texture
Bloom time: Mid summer to early fall
Light: Partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; pruning after flowering can encourage healthy growth
Growing zone: Hardy in zones 3 to 9
Wildlife: Attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies

Shrubs

Hydrangea arborescens 'Pinkerella'

Pinkerella Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Pinkerella' is a deciduous shrub admired for its large, rounded clusters of soft pink flowers. Blooming from early summer into fall, the mophead blooms add a lush and elegant touch to garden spaces. The flowers often transition through subtle shades of pink as they mature, creating a dynamic and ever-changing display that contrasts beautifully with the fresh green foliage.

A relatively new cultivar, 'Pinkerella' builds on the classic charm of Hydrangea arborescens varieties, offering reliable flowering and a long blooming season.

Light

Partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid summer to early fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Foundation Plantings
Cut Flower Gardens
Cottage Gardens

Companion plants

Pieris · Japanese forest grass · Brunnera · Viburnum · Trillium · Lungwort

Design tip

‘Pinkerella’ offers a long progression of pink tones as its flowers mature. Let the changing bloom color provide the seasonal variation, while its rounded flower heads establish a consistent shape and rhythm throughout the summer border.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)