Mulch around a panicle hydrangea is the best winter protection

Q: I need some advice on wintering my two Little Hottie hydrangea shrubs. I could use Styrofoam covers, or a fence filled with leaves or straw. I love them and don't want to lose them over winter. Do you have suggestions? – Sharron B. A: Good news! Your Little Hottie hydrangeas are reliably winter-hardy into Zone 3, which extends into Canada, and they won t need elaborate winter covering. How do you know which hydrangea cultivars are winter-hardy in our Zones 3 and 4? Botanical names are the key, found in fine print on the plant tag, or investigated online. Little Hottie hydrangea s label includes the botanical genus and species Hydrangea paniculata, which means it belongs to the winter-hardy paniculata species, commonly called panicle hydrangeas referring to their cone-shaped flower clusters. When browsing cultivars, look for the words Hydrangea paniculata, or Hydrangea arborescens. Both species and their cultivars are winter hardy. Hydrangeas with the s