Hydrangea paniculata Little Quick Fire

Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Quick Fire' is a compact variety of paniculate hydrangea, ideal for growing in large pots and very useful for landscaping smaller spaces. This dwarf variety of the very popular 'Quick Fire' stands out for its very early flowering, which starts from July. It forms a low and rather spread-out, very bushy shrub, whose light flowering in small conical panicles is also appealing. These begin white and then gradually take on tones ranging from pink to intense red until September-October. In the garden, it is easy to envisage this elegant shrub installed under a window or leaning against a small staircase, for example.

Hydrangea paniculata, also called Paniculate Hydrangea, is a particularly hardy species belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family originating from the leafy forests of China and Japan.

The 'Little Quick Fire' variety shows a dense and very compact habit. The main branches are upright, while the secondary ones are slightly arched. At maturity, this variety will not exceed 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in height for about 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in spread, and displays quite rapid growth. In July, it blooms on the year's branches in the form of small conical panicles, which are quite loose and very light in appearance. These mainly consist of fertile, single florets, transitioning from a white shade to more or less intense pink-red in autumn, when grown in a sunny exposure. This inflorescence, in which a few tiny and downy sterile florets mix, elegantly curves the youngest branches. 'Little Quick Fire' has well-ramified vegetation and branches covered with ovate leaves of a rather light green colour, measuring 5 to 15 cm (2 to 5.9 in) in length and 5 to 7 cm (2 to 2.8 in) in width. They turn yellow in autumn before disappearing in winter. Paniculate hydrangeas are less sensitive to late frosts as they usually flower on the year's branches.

Hydrangea paniculata sets itself apart from its cousin, Hydrangea macrophylla, by its good tolerance to sun, sea spray and relative drought. Planted in any good garden soil, without too much limestone, Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Quick Fire' displays rapid growth. It is a very hardy variety which can be planted alone, in a low hedge or in a massif, or in light undergrowth, mixed with other hydrangeas and perpetual roses to play with contrasts and shapes. You can also combine it with grasses such as Miscanthus, Panicum virgatum Squaw and Stipa. Its small stature allows it to be incorporated into a small garden and be grown without difficulty in a large pot on the terrace, where it will live many years if some fertiliser is added and it is regularly watered.