Hi Nora — your new garden area sounds like it will be beautiful! All of the plants you listed sound wonderful. I’d leave about a generous two feet minimum around the Limelight Hydrangea tree. You’re smart to plant around the tree now, before it matures, as once the roots develop, it is much harder to plant around it…ask me how I know. LOL Make sure that whatever you choose to plant can handle the same fertilizer you want to give your Limelight. These trees love acid soil, so a good slow-release organic fertilizer for acid-soil-loving plants is best. I use Espoma Holly-tone — not sure if it is available in British Columbia, but ask your local garden nursery experts for a recommendation.

When researching plants and flowers, many times on websites and online catalogs, they will list soil requirements. For example, sometimes it will say, “Prefers alkaline soil.” You don’t want to mix alkaline soil-loving plant with acid-loving plants. Other than that — you’re good to go! Also — keep in mind that your Limelight Hydrangea Tree will provide shade over time. However, since the tree canopy is up higher, your plants around it will still get sun…while also benefitting from some cooling shade too. Best of both worlds! Please keep me posted!

I’m so glad this has helped you Laurie! You’re lucky because you won’t make my mistakes and will have much better success with your tree right from the start! I have some videos about my Limelight Hydrangea Tree on my YouTube Channel too, in case they are helpful as well to you!

Well…thank YOU so much for your feedback! I really appreciate it, because I work so hard on these articles! Yes, I do it for me, so I can learn all about the plants, but once I get familiar with the plants I want to share that advice with everyone. You will really enjoy these trees, and I’d love if you kept me updated on how they’re doing!

Thanks for your question Irene! If you scroll up in this article, just above you’ll see a link to my article on “Pia Dwarf Hydrangeas: and I go over what to do if/when you encounter what you’re describing. Those spots can happen with too much heat and humidity combined with lots of watering. The mophead hydrangeas — including Endless Summer — are more sensitive to New Jersey’s heat and humidity issues than other types of hydrangeas such as panicle hydrangeas, which include the Pinky Winky and Limelight Hydrangeas. I went through this as well, and sometimes you have to decide if all of the trouble is worth it or not. It’s a hard call, especially when you do get beautiful flowers. I am working on a post about this, so stay tuned!