Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea
This is a panicle hydrangea, in the P.G. Hyrdrangea family. P.G. means paniculata grandifloria
P.G. Hydrangeas are Often Trained into Tree Form so I’m sure the same can be done with Vanilla Strawberry. Hardy in zones 3 to 8 this plant has pretty wide appeal across the U.S. It grows from a height of 6′ to 8′ but of course it can be pruned as much as you like. The one that I photographed was probably about five feet tall.
Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea growing over a split rail fence.
Perfectly happy in full sun this hydrangea can also tolerate some shade. As a matter of fact, this one in the photo does get some shade from a huge oak tree. This plant is growing about 20′ from my nursery in the neighbor’s yard.
Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea is nothing short of striking!
This plant was developed in France in the late 80’s and a U.S. patent was issued in 2010.
Plant Patent? What’s that mean?
That means that you and I are forbidden to propagate this plant whether we want want for Grandma, or whether we want to make hundreds or thousands of them to sell. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It’s a “thing” and a real part of the plant world today. But here’s the big picture . . .
Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea, hydrangea paniculata ‘Rehny’
1. This plant was developed in a controlled environment with the intention of creating a new and superior plant. U.S. patent laws do not allow you to patent a plant this is found growing wild. It has to be in a cultivate setting. Thus the patented is deserved.
2. A plant patent only lasts for 20 years from the date of application so in the grand scheme of things that’s not really a long time. It’s just long enough to give the developer enough time to profit from all of the work they put into the development of the plant without having to compete with others who are only capitalizing on all of their efforts and contributions to the plant world.
3. You and I are still allowed to sell and profit from this plant. We can’t propagate it, but we can buy liners or plugs from a wholesale grower who is licensed to propagate and sell the plant because they have entered into an agreement with the patent holder. Part of that agreement means that they have to charge a royalty on each plant propagated and sold and forward that royalty to the patent holder. Royalties can range from 20 cents to a dollar, maybe more depending on the plant. Things like perennials the royalties are usually under 50 cents, hardy landscape shrubs and trees are typically one dollar per plant. If some are higher I have not experienced that but I’m sure they could be.
Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea
More about Patented Plants and Registered Trademarks here.
Where can you buy this plant?
Hmmmm. That’s the million dollar question. That’s one of the problems with patented plants and the restrictions on growing them. They simply are more difficult to find. I did see some listed on Amazon. A bit pricey, but that’s the advantage of selling things that are not ready available at local garden stores.
I hope to have some at Mike’s Plant Farm this spring but no promises. I tried to find some liners last fall and came up short but I have local a grower friend that does grow this plant. Will he have any left? Who knows?
P.S. The Donkeys say; “Hey!” They are a bit tired of winter, we’ll make you a movie soon.
If these happen to Turn Up in the Members Area I would expect them to be about $4.00 each. We’ll see.
Questions, comments, mean things to say? Post them below and I will respond appropriately.
Hello! I got so tired of this plant sprouting new limbs that were just not strong enough to hold the flower. Mine also had attracted moth nests all throughout. I got a little too aggressive with my pruning and wound up severely cutting it way back on May 17th. Have i lost it?
Probably not. Fall is the time to cut it back hard in the future.
Mike, quit teasing? Will you have any starts fo sale of that beautiful hygrangea? If so let me know I’ll take ten or so, Really Girfts for my friends and family and my yard!!!!!
They are so pretty , I have one that my grandson about pruned it to death!
Lois,
Pretty hard to find as liners. The plant is still under patent so I cannot propagate it. But Silver Dollar, Phantom, Limelight and Pink Diamond are all in the public domain now. Regularly available in the members area. https://secure.backyardgrowers.com/business-center
Hi Mike! I am in mid Michigan and I bought 2 of these from Home Depot about 3 or 4 yrs ago and they are doing beautifully! They have been carrying lots of them at Home Depot…nI spent about 23 dollars each on them and they were pretty big… barely fit in the back seat. I hope they have them again this summer because I want more!
Good to know where folks can find them.
I would like to know how often to apply triple phospate to my hydrangeas for best results in flowering
Anne,
Ideally in the spring, in moderation. Maybe a small amount now.
i have been sent some hydrangea seeds, but dont have a clue on how to grow them,
any advice would be really appreciated.
Martin,
Honestly I don’t know, nobody in the industry grows them from seed because they will not be true to the parent plant.
What can I sell or grow here in American Samoa, a tropical and very humid condition?
The same things that you see being grown and sold in garden stores.
Thank you, Mike, for the youtube videos on plant care. Your videos are straightforward and easy to understand. I have a few questions.
I live in zone 4.
When is the best time to prune My Monet Wiegela?
What fertilizer do you recommend for zone 4 shrubs?
Do all varieties of shrubs need fertilizer?
Is Miracle Grow for shrubs a good fertilizer to use?
Again, in zone 4, when do I use a root stimulator, slow release fertilizer, or just plain fertilizer, such as Miracle Grow for shrubs?
If a plant has had a hard prune, do I use a root stimulator vs. a fertilizer?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Cindy,
When is the best time to prune My Monet Wiegela?
A: if it needs pruned, prune it now.
What fertilizer do you recommend for zone 4 shrubs?
A: None. I never fertilize the plants in my landscape, they know what to do.
Do all varieties of shrubs need fertilizer?
A: No, none of the do. Nature does not add fertilizer to the soil.
Is Miracle Grow for shrubs a good fertilizer to use?
A: It’s fairly safe, but you don’t need it.
Again, in zone 4, when do I use a root stimulator, slow release fertilizer, or just plain fertilizer, such as Miracle Grow for shrubs?
A: Plants in the ground need none of the above.
If a plant has had a hard prune, do I use a root stimulator vs. a fertilizer?
A: Don’t use either, then nothing can go wrong.
Great questions though, lots of people wonder about the same thing.
I had several Hydrangeas at the house I just sold, and the branches would get long enough to touch the ground. They would start rooting into the soil if not disturbed. Sure miss them, bought about 1999 from Cottage Farms.
Mike I love all your stuff… articles, videos, everything. Have one question which is something I have never seen mentioned anywhere
Is it advisable/worthwhile to try to give hardwood cuttings a headstart by starting indoors this time of year or even earlier ?
Chris,
I don’t think so. I think they are better off outside and that’s the beauty of hardwood cuttings. They are tough!
I have one in tree form and it is so beautiful! Boise, Idaho. When and how should it be pruned? Right now last year’s blooms are still on the plant, brown and dried, and looks like a dried flower arrangement. Pretty in winter as well as summer. Spring is within 4-6 weeks here. Thank you. I just discovered your site today and am so glad I did. Thank you for it!
Pam, anytime now you need to remove those spent flowers and prune the branches back a bit. Once the tree starts growing in the spring it should not be pruned so prune as much as you want now. Being a bit aggressive with the pruning is a good thing.
I bought 2 of these from Cottage Farms last year.
I just found that QVC has them for $36..48 with free shipping. Zones 4-8.
WOW! Not only have I heard of these beautiful plants, it seems they are EVERYWHERE here in Boone, NC! Mostly businesses though, with a few scattered homes. Everytime I see them, I want to go run over to Lowe’s plant section, but then again, it seems like more times than not, plants from there, die off, but there are a couple of nurseries that I’m thinking of visiting in the spring. Have a great day Mike and keep up the good work. <3
What zone do these strawberry vanilla grow in. I’m moving and paid a fortune for the plants that I have. City of London is loaded with these everywhere and when I went looking for where they bought it was the last one at the nursery, 39.99. Then the next year Lowes had them. I bought one for 19.99. Havent seen any since.
Please let me know the zonal on these. They are gorgeous plants
Julia,
It’s in the post, I can’t see if from this dashboard I believe it is 3 to 8.
HI Mike,
I have one of these, it is so lovely, but does not get as big in the one in the picture, maybe I have it in to much shade, any suggestions? Love your site and all your great information, I live in MN.
Althea
Althea,
They are sun loving, shade slows everything down a bit.
every hydrngea i put in the sun just cooks. the nursery said there are no hydrangeas that can stand the sun in western colorado
Jim,
Macrophylla Hydrangeas don’t care for full sun but paniculatas and arborescens do fine in the sun for me.
I would love to have one that I’m not a member I can’t afford to be a member I’m on a fixed income can you tell me how much it would be if I’m not a member
Yvonne,
At the moment I have non to sell.
Nice, look forward to hearing more from you, so ready to start my garden
Gosh, these are beautiful! I would love these, however, I live in zone 9a. what makes this a zone 8 plant? Is it because it doesn’t tolerate the heat or it likes living in the cooler areas? Thanks, Linda
Linda,
I don’t know that there are any hard fast rules, if you could find one I’d give it a try.
Hey Mike, great stuff but not for me I’m a morning glory person , planted them 35 years ago and never planted them again, and of course my Marigolds ,planting them for as long as I can remember.
I have enough to do , of my farm and my live stock ,We raise all our own food ,so don’t have to tell you . There’s not enough time in the day . We make all of our own seed . We do nothing but Heirloom products for our food.
You do some great stuff Mike. Different strokes for differen’t people.
silverbill
Love this variety of hydrangea I would like one . Love your site your no frills way of teaching you get right to the heart of the matter in understandable terms. Kepp up the good work we like it
Mike, IF. you happen to have this Hydrangea, I would appreciate two of them please, Thank you very much PS Let me know, and how much the charge.
Ann,
We’ll see, I did find some but haven’t ordered yet.
Mike., Thank you for keeping me on your list so I can watch your videos and and inspiration for growing plants. I cut some six inch pcs. of hydrangea branches, and put them in a bag, and hung the bag on the back of my chopping table and didn’t get back at them until the s econd week of January which was six weeks later. Instead of throwing them away, I scrapped along a pc and it was green under there yet, so I took my little jar of rooting comp. and went outside and stuck them into six inches of sand about 1 1/2 deep…after dipping them in the dry rooting comp. Wonder if they were too dried out to live and grow some roots.? Any thoughts? I t would be wonderful if they grew, as I could plant a hedge of them in remembrance of my MOm who died on Jan. 10th I am hoping tht ten or so might live..and still grow roots after being so dry. Thanks for cheering me on these sad days, Mike. Sue Guyer, GArnavillo, Iowa, where the sun is shining every morning with God’s grace.
Sue, if they were outside they are likely to still be okay. Just wait and see.
I had several Hydranges at the house I just sold, and the branches would get long enough to touch the ground. They would start rooting into the soil if not disturbed. Sure miss them, bought about 1999 from Cottage Farms.
Mike, you border on genius.. Your plants are beautiful. I only wish I could plant more. Breathing issues…But I keep on reading, it is like magic.
Thanks for the beauty!
Cindy, as we all get older things become more difficult to do. Find a kid in town that can help you a little.
I would like to put in an order for two strawberry vanilla hydrangea if you are able to get them.
Yes please if they will grown in central Utah I want them! I will be watching!
Let me know if you get any strawberry vanilla hydrangea is a Beautiful plant
I bought my wife one in tree form last year for mother’s day at a small nursery in Rochester NY. They are a truly beautiful plant!
Wow so beautiful. I need to be put on the list to get one if they become available.
Great information I hope you can post some information about straw berry and black and raspberry such hoe to root them I do no the strawberry plant does put daughter plants. keep up the great work
Beautiful plant, but I dread the black mold here in NC will take them all.
It has just killed some basil in my kitchen (where I open windows in summer) inspite of my ongoing battle with the mold inside the house with bleach and lysol spray.
Is there anything that would save my plants in this dreadful environment? They claim to have 3 times more rainy days here, than does Seattle.
Emma,
All I can suggest is planting in an area with plenty of air flow. We have lots of members in North Carolina that do really well and many in Washington state that do really well and this is the first I’ve heard of this mold issue.
Thank you, Mike.
We are on the north-eastern side of a hill, and under tall southern oaks (soft, old and rotting). It’s cooler in summer in the neighbourhood, but probably not enough sunlight makes it moist and moldy.
I’m having a large Camphor. Tree removed from my front yard. Would love to plant a Japanese Maple to replace it. I’m in zone 9, between S.F and .sacramento. It will receive full sun with the Camphor gone. I don’t want a large tree. Maybe something about the size of the ones in your front yard. Do you have any suggestions. I’ve been told I can’t plant in full sun in this area. P,ease tell me they are wrong!
Jean,
Japanese maples are an under story tree and even here in the north they really like some shade. At least some shade at some part of the day. I’d suggest planting closer to the house so the house can provide some shade.
help me find pretty plants that the deer will hate
Arlene,
Put in things like potentilla, weigela and perennials that will at least bounce back if the deer eat them.
I just discovered this beautiful variety and ordered some seeds on eBay. They arrived yesterday. I’m hoping I’ll have success growing them. I’m going t9 be the envy of the neighborhood!
Theresa,
It’s highly unlikely that this plant will come true from seed. Almost a 99.999999% chance that they won’t come true from seed and I get frustrated with seed sellers who sell things like Pink Dogwood Seeds, when in fact the story is the same, not likely to happen from a seed.
Thanks, Mike and Staff, for the pictures. I do not have a place for one now, but I might try growing a potted on when I find one.