Lime Rickey Smooth hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens ‘SMNHALR’, marketed as Lime Rickey®, is a deciduous smooth hydrangea with broad mophead clusters. Its lime-green sterile flowers fade toward pale alabaster and can return to green, while small fertile flowers add a raspberry-pink accent; Proven Winners lists a four-to-five-foot garden size, and a regional trial recorded a larger plant near six feet tall by eight feet wide. [The breeder’s cultivar profile](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/hydrangea/lime-rickey-smooth-hydrangea-hydrangea-arborescens) and [the regional trial report](https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/wild-hydrangea-for-the-mid-atlantic-region/hydrangea-smnhalr-lime-rickey-2/) describe these seasonal and regional differences. ## Garden use The rounded shrub suits a sunny border, specimen planting, or mass planting; its strong stems also make the long-lasting flowers useful for fresh or dried arrangements. The selection code ‘SMNHALR’ is documented in the [plant-patent record](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP28858P2/en). ## Placement Choose sun or part sun; Proven Winners recommends about six hours of light for abundant flowers and sturdy stems, with afternoon shade helpful in hotter climates. Average moisture and a bark-mulch layer help shallow roots through warm weather. ## Maintenance In early spring, when new growth begins, remove dead wood and cut the plant back by about one-third to encourage flowering stems. Refresh mulch to conserve moisture; the breeder describes routine water needs as average.