Hydrangea paniculata Fire Light

Hydrangea paniculata Fire Light is one of the most compact paniculate hydrangeas currently available in the horticultural trade. This does not prevent this small shrub from offering generous and long-lasting flowering, in a gradient of green, cream and raspberry-pink. Sturdy, with very strong stems that carry its well-proportioned panicles without weakening, this hydrangea is perfectly adapted to growing in large pots and is very useful for laying out small spaces. Its plump inflorescences bloom from late spring and almost completely cover the vegetation that nicely changes colours in autumn.

Hydrangea paniculata, also called Paniculate Hydrangea, is a particularly hardy species of hydrangea belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family, native to the leafy forests of China and Japan. It is easy to grow in any good garden soil that remains fresh.

The Fire Light 'Tidbit' variety, recently introduced on the market, was obtained in the United States by Tim Wood. The shrub shows a very reduced development; its main, thick branches remain upright under the weight of the flowers. At maturity, this variety will reach about 75 cm (29.5 in) in height and 90 cm (35.4 in) in spread. From mid-June, many conical, dense flower panicles bloom on the branches of the year; these are more rounded than those of other H. paniculata. They mainly contain fertile, single florets, quickly evolving from a green to greenish-cream shade towards increasingly bright pink. From spring, the branches bear finely dentate, ovate leaves of a fairly light green colour. They become more or less orange and purple before disappearing in winter. Paniculate hydrangeas are less sensitive to late frosts, as the majority of them bloom on the shoots of the year. This variety will withstand -20 °C, or even below. 

Hydrangea paniculata Fire Light distinguishes itself from its cousins, the large-leaved hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), by its good tolerance to sun and sea spray and it copes with a slightly less humid soil. Installed in any good garden soil without too much limestone, in a few seasons 'Fire Light' forms  a neat-looking bush that is laden with flowers for three months. Install it on its own, in a low hedge or in a bed, or even in clear undergrowth, mixed with other hydrangeas and perpetual roses to play with contrasts and shapes. You can also combine it with grasses like Miscanthus, Panicum virgatum Squaw and Stipa. Its small size allows it to be incorporated without hesitation into a small garden and to grow without difficulty in a large pot on the terrace, where it will live for many years with the addition of fertiliser and regular watering.