This panicle hydrangea is grown for its large, showy blooms that appear in summer. Vanilla Strawberry is a large shrub that grows 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. Its blooms open snowy white and mature to light and then dark pink in fall. It has a cascading form.

In Kansas, they prefer afternoon shade but can tolerate all-day sun with sufficient water. However, even in the shade, hydrangeas need extra water in hot conditions. Mulching up to 3 inches around this plant helps regulate soil temperature and moisture. This plant may have some leaf diseases in damp conditions. They can be pruned back by a third in early spring. Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangeas work well as accent plants, in shade gardens, in foundation plantings, and as short hedges.