Plant of the week

Paniculata ‘Grandiflora’: The daddy of the hydrangea family, H paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ looks like a shrub topped with flowery ice-cream cones – a stunning sight as autumn comes knocking at the door. Normally, a light pruning in spring (taking off last year’s flowerheads) is all that’s needed to keep the plant happy. Hydrangeas like a fertile soil which is well-drained but moisture-retentive and, although they aren’t adverse to full sun, they do appreciate a bit of shade.