Hydrangea paniculata Little Hottie First Editions - Panicle hydrangea

The Hydrangea paniculata Little Hottie First Editions is a panicled hydrangea that is well adapted to all climates and particularly to hot climates, with good heat and sun tolerance. It develops conical panicles of lime green and then brilliant pure white before taking on pink hues in autumn. It forms a compact, rounded, well-branched bush that requires little pruning or maintenance. Sturdy and with strong stems, it carries its large, dense flower panicles without weakening.

The Hydrangea paniculata, also known as the Mountain Hydrangea, is a species of hydrangea belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family, native to deciduous forests in China and Japan, particularly hardy. It is easy to grow in any good garden soil that remains moist.

The Little Hottie First Editions variety is a recent selection originating from the southern United States by Bailey Nurseries, which offers a range of premium plants with excellent performance. The bush has a compact and rounded development, with erect, thick main branches that remain straight under the weight of the flowers. At maturity, this variety will reach about 1.20m in height and 1.20m in spread. From the end of June, or in July depending on the region, it produces numerous well-formed panicles composed of quite spectacular flowers, conical but more compact and rounded than those of other H. paniculata. They consist mainly of large sterile florets, single, evolving from lime green to brilliant white, and then taking on antique pink hues in autumn. The branches bear oval leaves from spring, fairly light green in colour, 5 to 15cm long and 5 to 7cm wide, finely toothed. They turn yellow in autumn before disappearing in winter. Panicled hydrangeas are less sensitive to late frosts, as they mostly flower on new growth. This variety can withstand temperatures down to -20°C, or even lower.

Panicled hydrangeas distinguish themselves from their cousins, the bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), by their good tolerance to sun, sea spray, and relative drought. But Little Hottie offers even better performance and can withstand intense sun and summer heat. Planted in any good garden soil, although not too chalky, it forms a well-defined bush that is covered in flowers for over two months in just a few seasons. Plant it as a specimen, in a low hedge or border, or even in a light woodland mix with other hydrangeas and repeat flowering roses to play with contrasts and shapes. You can also pair it with grasses such as Miscanthus, Panicum virgatum Squaw, and Stipa. Its small size allows it to be adopted without hesitation in a small garden and to be grown without any problems in a large container on the terrace, where it will live for many years with regular fertilisation and watering.