Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva' was introduced by Haworth-Booth from Chenaulfs nursery, and given an Award of Merit by the RHS in 1966. It is a "Big Box" item and one of the most popular Panicle hydrangeas in the US. It is a vigorous, upright deciduous shrub (or small tree) which grows 8-12' tall. Flowers are white, lightly tinged with pink/cream with age. Flowers on new wood and prunning should be done prior to new growth. 'Tardiva' is similar to H. Paniculata 'Floribunda'.

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The roots of Tardiva are numerous and many are at or near the surface. I would not plant anything around it that has deep roots or you'll struggle to dig out the plants.

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This 'Tardiva" cultivar is a neat, clean shrub that is reliable in many landscapes. Its white flower clusters are definitely pyramidal with the showy sterile florets dominating, but still with a fair number of the small, fertile florets producing nectar and pollen. The panicle clusters get about 8 inches long and remain upright, and are not gaudy like some of the newer cultivars of the Panicule Hydrangea that bear really huge, monstrous flower clusters. In my native Chicago, IL, area, I remember the white blooming about 6 weeks in late August and September, maybe a little into October, later than most other shrubs or hydrangeas. The flowers later turn pinkish and then brown. It is sold by a good number of larger, diverse conventional nurseries in the Upper Midwest; less so in the South or East US where the very popular Bigleaf Hydrangea is grown. The shrub holds an upright habit for a good while, but when older needs some pruning in early spring to get after any branches that stick out too far. I worked at one nursery in southeast Pennsylvania where, they sold the "tree form" of this cultivar that I don't care for. A few other cultivars of this species are also made into "tree forms."

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