Hydrangea Pinky Winky™
Hydrangea 'DVPinky' pp#16,166
With a name like Pinky Winky™ you better have something good to offer in the landscape!! Fortunately for this plant and you, Pinky Winky™ does! A sport of the old school landscape stalwart ‘Pink Diamond’, Pinky Winky™ perseveres despite its insanely catchy name to far outshine its parent.
The first thing that jumps out at you is flower size. Let’s face it, all paniculata Hydrangea types have big blooms but Pinky Winky™ puts most of them to shame with flowers that easily eclipse 12” tall once the plant is established in the landscape. Even better than their huge size is the fact that Pinky Winky™ is not stingy when it comes to flower numbers…you’ll find these huge flowers in great numbers on the plant every blooming season to the point that you’ll wonder how those stems can hold such blooming power upright.
The answer to that question points out another of the improvements Pinky Winky™ has over ‘Pink Diamond’. The individual stems on Pinky Winky™ are far stronger than those of its parent meaning a much neater landscape appearance, far less landscape flopping and more viewing satisfaction in your landscape. And you’ll cherish that view even more due to the stunning flower color that really gives Pinky Winky™ its name. Like most Hydrangea paniculatas, ‘Pinky Winky™’ blooms emerge white but as they elongate and mature, they immediately begin to take on a pink shade that only darkens as each day goes by. Shortly, you’ll be gazing lovingly at breathtaking pink flower towers that will make all the angst about going to your local garden center and asking for this plant by name worth it!
Pinky Winky™ is the easiest of landscape plants to grow with an easy care nature, disease resistance and tolerance of full sun or partial shade that will make it a stunner almost anywhere you plant it. It’s perfect as a specimen or grouped to form a border and it really is a plant that keeps on giving. How so you ask? Unlike many Hydrangea paniculatas, ‘Pinky Winky™’ blooms on old and new branches allowing for a succession of flowers that equates to a longer bloom season and an interesting bi-color bloom effect as mature pink blooms contrast brilliantly with emerging new white blooms. Also, like most other Hydrangea, each ‘Pinky Winky™’ bloom can be dried to be used in indoor arrangement that will keep on pleasing well after the landscape bloom season has departed.
Pinky Winky™ survives and thrives despite cold winters with its Zone 4 hardiness and it’s dense, rounded, 6 to 8’ tall and wide form is a perfect low maintenance fit for a myriad of landscape spots.
Awards
2008 - Award of Garden Merit
-Royal Horticulture Society at Wisley Gardens