Sentimental Hydrangea Dying: what's the variety?

[InvertGang]

Hello everyone. With the harsh snow this winter, the hydrangea my grandmother planted got destroyed.

It was planted probably some time in the 80s, in Ontario Canada zone 5b.

I'm wondering if anyone is very good with hydrangea varieties and can help me identify it.

It's a paniculata hydrangea similar to something like limelight. Limelight wouldn't have been available in the 80s though.

I've got some photos of what it has looked like in different months in the past to try to identify it. If anyone has ideas of what specific variety this is, that would be wonderful.

I'm really hoping to get a new one for my dad for father's day coming up in June. He was gutted when he found it destroyed as it reminds him of his mum.

 

[NatJ]

Unfortunately I have no idea what variety it is.

But do you really need a new one? Or could you cut off the damaged parts and let it regrow from what is left? That way it really would be the same plant.

 

[NanaK]

Sorry your plant had a rough winter but I would not give up on it yet. I would remove the broken branch and give it some time (like maybe 6-8 weeks). It takes time for the soil to warm. Your hydrangea may resprout from the bottom of the stalk or from the roots. Hydrangea paniculata is very hardy. Hopefully you will get a nice surprise and keep your original plant.

Maybe for Father's Day you could give your day another similar to this one and plant it in the same area while you wait to see what the original plant does.

I'm wondering if anyone is very good with hydrangea varieties and can help me identify it.

It's a paniculata hydrangea similar to something like limelight. Limelight wouldn't have been available in the 80s though.

It can be difficult to look at a plant and name the exact variety.
I think many of the paniculatas were labeled Hydrangea paniculata "Grandiflora" in the 1970s and 80s. They are often labeled "Pee Gee" now. I think some are hardy to zone 3.