Hydrangea paniculata Quick Fire Fab®

Hydrangea paniculata Quick Fire Fab® is a variety of Paniculate Hydrangea with truly spectacular and long-lasting flowering. The medium-sized bush, approximately 1.50 m, is covered from late June to early October with large panicles, beautifully highlighted by the medium to dark green foliage. The inflorescences emerge creamy white, about twenty centimetres long, and gradually turn pink over the weeks, first in pale tones then increasingly deeper, finishing with a reddish note. This hydrangea is quite easy to grow, happy with non-calcareous, humus-bearing and moist soil, tolerating sun well and also growing in partial shade. Its great hardiness allows it to be grown in all regions.

Hydrangea is a member of the Hydrangeaceae family, from which it gets its name, which houses other ornamental genera, such as the popular Deutzia or the charming Mock Oranges (Philadelphus). There are more than 70 botanical species of Hydrangea, mainly originating from Asia. This is the case for Hydrangea paniculata, which grows wild in deciduous forests in China and Japan, where it can become tree-like and reach 7 to 10 m in height. In cultivation, it is a shrub of around 1 m to 1.50 m, which was introduced to France in 1865.
The variety ‘SMNHPM’ Quick Fire Fab develops into a dense clump, 1.40 to 1.60 m tall and 1 m to 1.20 m wide. The elliptical, 5 to 12 cm long leaves, pointed at the tip and with a finely toothed border, are medium to dark green depending on exposure and soil. From the end of June, large panicles composed of dozens and dozens of small flowers with narrow petals begin to bloom on the plant. These pyramidal to conical inflorescences measure 20 to 25 cm in height and 15 to 20 cm in width, and are produced profusely. Their starting colour is a creamy white that contrasts with the darker foliage. The mass of flowers is truly spectacular, creating a strong focal point of interest in the garden. Gradually, the panicles colour pale pink from the bottom upwards, then turn to a deeper pink. By late summer, it's a luscious raspberry pink, and at the beginning of autumn, the change is complete in an almost red tone. In favourable years, the flowering can last for a good part of October before fading, and leaf drop then closes the growing season.

More accommodating than Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea paniculata really only dislikes active limestone, tolerating sun and relative drought well, even though it prefers moist soil. Plant Hydrangea Quick Fire Fab alongside other ornamental plants within a varied border. A few spring-flowering shrubs will extend the flowering period, such as Ribes sanguineum 'Johannie PinkPomp', a bright pink Flowering Currant, whose clusters bloom in March-April. In May, Exochorda racemosa 'Snow Mountain' will be weighed down by an avalanche of white flowers capable of covering almost all the bush's foliage. To elegantly accompany the summer flowering of your Quick Fire Fab Hydrangea, opt for blue tones, like those offered by Delphinium grandiflorum sinensis. Place this low-growing perennial at the foot of the bush and its spikes of incredible azure blue flowers will perfectly complement the white and then pink panicles.