September Shrub of the Month-Little quick fire panicle hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMHPLQF’ LITTLE QUICK FIRE

Think of hydrangeas and round, moppy heads come to mind. You know the one you bought because it was sooo blue in the photograph but is only a weak pink in your yard despite dousing it with Miracid and the likes. The ones that fail to bloom in St. Louis even though the tag says they will.

(First rule of gardening-PLANTS DO NOT READ CULTURE TAGS)

Time to get over our Endless Summer envy and move on St. Louis. Time to embrace the panicle hydrangeas!

Little quick fire is hardy, it’s a reliable bloomer, and it’s GORGEOUS. Little quick fire is a smaller form of the cultivar H. paniculata ‘Bulk’ QUICK FIRE. I’ve tried little quick fire in multiple areas around the garden for four years now, just hoping to see one struggle, but every single one survived-and every single one bloomed from the get-go.

But you crave color…say no more. It might not be the forever-coveted blue, but these white blooms get a very sweet pink tint as they age (a few weeks away as I write this post.) and become a gawker hazard if planted in your front yard.

Do you like neat and tidy shapes but hate trimming shrubs? Little quick fire maintains a nice, rounded habit without trimming. 3-5’ high and 2-4’ wide. Blooms in late summer after the other hydrangeas have all done their thing.

Oh, but you say you don’t have enough shade for hydrangeas? These guys take full sun or part shade. I’ve seen them in parking lots and large commercial plantings in blazing, St. Louis summer heat, and they not only still look great, they come back next year for more.

What I love about this plant-The hardiness, the size, the reliable blooms, the super-low maintenance, the persistent flower heads that add winter interest, and how well the flower heads dry for floral design.

What’s not so great-It isn’t blue….but trust me, you’ll get over it.

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com, All rights reserved.