Hydrangea paniculata Dharuma

Hydrangea paniculata 'Dharuma' is a variety of paniculate hydrangea with a compact habit that can be grown in large pots. Highly ramified and very dense, it is distinguished by its particularly early summer flowering. Its inflorescences in flat heads are pure white, before turning pink during the summer. Accommodating in terms of soil, it does not require heath soil to grow but is satisfied with a neutral or even slightly limestone soil, as long as it remains slightly humid in the summer season. Very hardy, it is the ideal hydrangea for beginner gardeners.

Hydrangea paniculata, also called Paniculate Hydrangea, is a particularly hardy species of hydrangea belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family native to deciduous forests of China and Japan. It is easy to grow in any good garden soil that remains fresh. In the past, there were only large varieties, but breeders have worked a lot on this species to introduce many compact cultivars. In the 1970s, the botanist Jelena de Belder introduced the Pink Diamond variety,  which quickly caused a sensation with its white flowers that change colour during flowering.

The 'Dharuma' variety is renowned among paniculate hydrangeas, as it is one of the earliest to flower. Its medium-sized flat inflorescences (about 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter) appear from mid-June. They are made up of narrow fertile flowers, grouped in the centre, and sterile flowers with four sepals which appear to float like butterflies on the periphery. This very graceful quality, found in some Viburnums, gives the plant a very romantic presence. Very compact, 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) high for a width of about 1 m (3 ft 4 in), this shrub has a very regular habit thanks to its very dense branching. Its deciduous foliage of medium green, composed of elongated leaves that are pointed at their ends, sometimes changes colour in autumn before falling. This hydrangea tolerates partial shade but not complete shade. Its hardiness is very good, down to -25 °C (-13 °F).

Hydrangea paniculata 'Dharuma' is the ideal hydrangea for all gardeners frustrated at not being able to plant Hydrangea macrophylla, due to lack of suitable soil and climate. This hydrangea holds up very well in the sun, which is a definite advantage for this category of shrubs. Its small growth allows it to be grown in large pots on a terrace. Hydrangea paniculata will be appreciated for its long flowering period, which can even be extended as dried bouquets. In the garden, it can be planted with a wide range of shrubs flowering at other times. A Hamamelis 'Arnold Promise' will start the show with its yellow winter flowers, followed in late winter by a Japanese quince or the little-known Abeliophyllum distichum, resembling the popular forsythias, but with white flowers. Spring offers a plethora of choices, from the classic Van Houtte's Spiraea to the many weigelias. To accompany our hydrangea during the summer, there is nothing better than a Lagerstroemia, and to enjoy a contrast of foliage, the golden decoration of Leycesteria formosa Golden Lanterns (Pheasant Berry) will be perfect. And to finish off the cycle, nothing beats decorative fruits for the autumn and winter, like those of the snowberries.