Hydrangea paniculata Bombshell

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bombshell’ is a new cultivar with a remarkably compact habit and particularly long and abundant flowering. Its large pyramidal panicles are composed of cream-white star-shaped flowers, which blush slightly pink over time. Its foliage is dark green, carried on a well-ramified and dense bush. Very hardy and tolerant to sun and slightly calcareous soils, this shrub is very well suited for pot cultivation.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bombshell’ is a recent Dutch selection. The Hydrangea paniculata species is native to the temperate eastern regions of China and Japan. Like the species, ‘Bombshell’ displays excellent hardiness (down to -25 °C (-13 °F)) and adapts to sun and relative drought, while being more tolerant to calcareous soils than traditional Hydrangea macrophylla. It forms a compact bush with an upright and ramified habit, reaching about 120 cm (47.2 in) in height by 100 cm (39.4 in) in spread, with rapid growth. Its flowering generally begins at the start of July and continues until October. Greenish cream-white at first, its large tapered panicles, composed of large star-shaped florets with long curved petals, blush delicately pink with the first signs of cold. Its branches bend gracefully under the weight of the flowers. They are covered with beautiful dark green, ovate, deciduous foliage.

Planted in any good garden soil, albeit without too much limestone, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bombshell’ shows rapid growth. It is a very hardy variety, that can be planted in a low hedge or in a bed mixed with other hydrangeas, alongside perpetual roses to play with contrasts and shapes. Its small size allows it to be incorporated into a small garden and to be cultivated without difficulty in a large pot on the terrace where it will live for many years with some additions of fertiliser and regular watering.