I've grown a so called medium size hydrangea in another garden and was astounded how much larger it grew than the label advertised. It grew long, whip-like stems and produced beautiful flowers, but was difficult to manage near a sidewalk. Having grown a little wiser, I chose a shorter variety called Bobo and planted two in an island in our front garden. My question is this: Is it possible to keep Bobo down to 3 or 4 ft height and width? We are in central Virginia, zone 7a. The plants will be in full sun. Sure would appreciate your experience with this shrub. Thanks much.

Welcome to NGA. Yes if you prune as needed to keep the size in check. Its height is advertised at 3 feet high by the plant's maturity date (that is never identified but assume anywhere from 5 to 10 years) so I would think that, if never pruned, it may get somewhat taller with the passing of sufficient time. Panicle hydrangeas can be pruned from late fall to late winter or early spring. It develops flower buds depending on location from late spring to summer. It can also be hard pruned as long as the root system is not disturbed.

Well thank you Luis for your information. This gives me some hope that they can be kept three feet tall. Some gardeners on YouTube were pruning Bobo hydrangeas and they had grown five feet high and quite wide. The three Bobos I have are just babies in their first year. I will see how tall they tend to grow here in Virginia, Zone 7b.

I have two Bobo hydrangeas. One is planted by a fence so it just does its own thing. The other I planted next to a sidewalk (believing the 3' x3' size on the label). I have to trim it back hard every year and it still hangs out over the walkway at bloom time. It's been planted there so long that it would probably be easier to move the pavers than it would be to move the bush.