Panicle Hydrangea vs Nodding Onion - TreeTime.ca

Panicle Hydrangea vs Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum

Hydrangea paniculata

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Nodding Onion
Panicle Hydrangea

Nodding Onion is a native perennial wildflower known for its nodding clusters of flowers that range in color from white to pink to purple. The lightly scented blooms provide pollen and nectar for pollinators, especially bees, which can collect while hanging upside down, a capability most other insects lack.

The narrow, grass-like leaves of the Nodding Onion can be used as a seasoning in cooked dishes, though bulbs and raw leaves should not be eaten in large quantities. All parts of the plant have an onion-like aroma when bruised, which helps deter deer and rabbits. They can self-seed readily, so removing spent blooms helps manage their spread. Tolerant of a range of soils, including alkaline, it is well-suited for a variety of plantings, including pollinator gardens and naturalization projects.

Panicle Hydrangea is a large, broad-leaf, deciduous shrub that is prized for its ornamental appeal. It is easy to care for, long-lived, and cold-hardy.

Depending on the variety, its flowers change color throughout the blooming period. Make sure you water Panicle Hydrangeas regularly to achieve the most notable color change.

Nodding Onion Quick Facts

Panicle Hydrangea Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: upright to spreading, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - high
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium

Toxicity: raw leaves and bulbs can be midly toxic

Foliage: smells of onion when crushed, edible
Flowers: white, pink, or purple nodding clusters
Flowers: white, strong scent, very showy
Bloom time: late spring to summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, ON
Other Names: ladys leek, nodding wild onion
Other Names: white panicle hydrangea