Mulch around a panicle hydrangea is the best winter protection

Q: I need some advice on wintering my two Little Hottie hydrangea shrubs. I could use Styrofoam covers, or a fence filled with leaves or straw. I love them and don't want to lose them over winter. Do you have suggestions? – Sharron B. A: Good news! Your Little Hottie hydrangeas are reliably winter-hardy into Zone 3, which extends into Canada, and they won’t need elaborate winter covering. How do you know which hydrangea cultivars are winter-hardy in our Zones 3 and 4? Botanical names are the key, found in fine print on the plant tag, or investigated online. Little Hottie hydrangea’s label includes the botanical genus and species Hydrangea paniculata, which means it belongs to the winter-hardy paniculata species, commonly called “panicle hydrangeas” referring to their cone-shaped flower clusters. When browsing cultivars, look for the words “Hydrangea paniculata,” or “Hydrangea arborescens.” Both species and their cultivars are winter hardy.

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