Fired up for spring?
The spring-blooming flowering shrubs are on full display right now. It’s hard not to love all of the classics: forsythia, lilac, viburnum.
But what about the summer bloomers? Summer will be here before we know it, and all of those new gardeners will need something in bloom then, too.
Hydrangea paniculata is a great choice for summer gardens. And I do mean choice: there are plenty of outstanding plants to choose from. Tall, small, early bloom, late – there’s something for everyone. One variety to take a good look at is Fire Light®.
The flowers open white and then quickly turn dark pink to almost red…almost! It’s the most intense color we’ve seen on a hardy hydrangea.
This is a full-sized plant: 6-8′ tall. If you don’t have room for it, then take a look at the new Fire Light Tidbit® panicle hydrangea. It’s quite a bit smaller, reaching heights of 2-3′ and widths of 3′. Plus, they have the cold tolerance we love in H. paniculata, hardy down to USDA zone 3.
When you stop to take a breath this spring, look around to see how much four-season interest you have in your garden. Perhaps there’s a panicle hydrangea that would be a perfect addition to your summer palette.
About those hardy hydrangeas…
We don’t introduce new hydrangeas to make you crazy. We introduce them because finding the right variety to fit in a project makes for happy gardeners, and we want to be sure everyone has the exact right plant for their sites.
The Explore Hydrangeas website was created to provide information and inspiration about the hydrangeas we carry. Feel free to reference this site or the materials (also available as handouts) the next time you’re giving a presentation or working with a client.
Speaking of hydrangeas, we’re sponsoring Hydrangea Happy Hour on May 6!
This is part 3 of the GardenComm Hydrangea Happiness Webinars featuring oakleaf and climbing hydrangeas.
Host C.L. Fornari will focus on these two species, and she’ll answer all your hydrangea questions.
If can’t attend on the 6th, you can still register, and a link to the recording will be sent to you after the event is completed.
You do not need to be a member to attend! Register today.