‘The Swan’ is a semi dwarf shrub typically 6 ft. tall with a spread of 6 ft. The conical flowerheads are 6 to 12 inches with a mixture of showy but sterile flowers and smaller, fertile but non-showy ones. The flowers emerge white in July, develop pink overtones as they mature and continue blooms well into the fall. The name ‘The Swan’ may refer to the plant’s silhouette which resembles a swan flapping its wings, or it may refer to the fact that the emerging flowers are like an ugly duckling. The color of the flowers is not affected by the pH of the soil. The ’Swan’ does well in full sun to light shade and is moderately drought- tolerant.It blooms on new wood so the flowers are not susceptible to late spring frosts. This is a hybrid of Hydrangea paniculata which is native to Japan, China and Korea where it grows at altitudes up to 4,000 ft.