Are you looking for a stunning deciduous shrub to grow in your garden? Then we can help with the Quick Fire Hydrangea as it takes little effort on your part to care for it. It grows remarkably quickly and adapts to the sun well, and when it blossoms, it blooms on new wood, and the flowers open in white, changing to pink as a mature plant. Another exciting thing is it blooms a month earlier than most Hydrangea. So, stay a bit longer to learn how you can care and find a Quick Fire Hydrangea to grow in the garden or in your home.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Quick Fire hydrangea is an eye catching shrub with several outstanding features. It blooms about a month earlier than any other cultivars of Hydrangea paniculata, starting in early to mid-summer depending on the local climate, and continuing throughout the summer and into the fall. Initially the flowers are white but as the season progresses, they gradually turn pink and deepen in color to a reddish purple or dark pink fall color. What also distinguishes it from other hydrangeas is its deep orange to rust-colored fall foliage. Hydrangea is toxic to humans and pets.
The plant is vigorous with an upright growth habit. It can be planted in groupings and mass plantings as a screen or a hedge, or as a specimen in perennial borders. The 6-inch panicles sit on sturdy upright stems, which makes them good choices for fresh flower bouquets or dried arrangements. Unlike bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), the flower color of Hydrangea paniculata cannot be changed by altering the soil pH.
Quick Fire is the registered trade name of the cultivar. The asexual propagation of the plant with vegetative material (cuttings) is protected by U.S. Plant Patents.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The ideal light setting for Quick Fire hydrangea depends on your location. In northern areas, it can be planted in full sun. However, in the south, it is better off in a spot with some early afternoon shade so it’s not exposed to the strongest midday sun.
Temperature and Humidity
During winter, your Quick Fire Hydrangea is a cold-tolerant plant as it does not affect the newly grown wood or blooms developing. Still, you need to protect your plant from the heat by providing it with moist soil and some afternoon shade in warm weather.
The warmer temperatures can cause drought stress, and best to keep an eye on your plant. The big concern is high humidity and lack of air circulation, leading to fungal diseases. If you live in the USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8, it grows well outdoors.
Watering
During the first growing season, you can water your Quick Fire Hydrangea every few days if it does not rain. When your shrub establishes itself, it helps keep the soil moist but not soggy. If you have an extended dry period and your plant wilts, give it deep watering to bring it back to life.
Water the plant every few days after planting and during the first growing season without sufficient rain. Established shrubs do best in moist but not soggy soil. If the plant shows wilting foliage during extended dry periods, water it slowly and deeply; it should spring back promptly.
Soil
Quick Fire Hydrangea grows in most soils, as long as they are well-drained. Soil high in organic matter is ideal, not only for the nutrient content but also because it is less prone to drying out. Apply a generous layer of mulch to keep the soil moist, and avoid locations where the soil is exposed to sun and wind. The soil pH does not have any impact on the flower color.
Fertilizing
Providing your flowers with organic matter and well-drained soil is enough for your Hydrangea to flourish with new growth. You can provide your plant with a high-phosphorus fertilizer like a 15-30-15 one in early spring to encourage flowering.
Pruning
Quick Fire hydrangea, like the other panicle hydrangeas, blooms on new wood, so it is best to prune it in the early spring. You’ll be able to identify the dead wood, last year’s spent blooms, and the new growth. The thickest buds are located in the lower two-thirds of the plant, so make sure not to cut any growth below that level.
You can prune Quick Fire hydrangea to grow like a tree on a single trunk but its natural growth is as a large, multi-stemmed shrub that is pruned annually.
Propagation
As the Quick Fire Hydrangea is a registered trade name, asexual propagation is prohibited under the US Plant Patent laws. Hence, you cannot propagate your shrub through cuttings. While we have heard that some gardeners take softwood cuttings of up to six inches long to grow in soil.
Pests and Diseases
Quick Fire hydrangea is relatively unharmed by serious pests and diseases. It is susceptible to bud blight, bacterial wilt, leaf spot, rust, as well as powdery mildew. The latter occurs on the foliage especially in humid conditions and when there is poor air circulation. One way of preventing powdery mildew is to leave sufficient space between plantings. If you’ve had powdery mildew on the plant, make sure to rake up and safely remove all the foliage in the fall to prevent it from reinfecting the plant next year. If the fungal infection is severe, you can treat the plant with a fungicide.
As for insects, Quick Fire hydrangea might attract aphids and spider mites.
III. Uses and Benefits
Mass in mixed shrub borders for dramatic summer blooms, in front of walls, fences, taller shrubs, and trees. Quick Fire hydrangea is great for city gardens, cottage gardens or containers. Panicles may be cut for fresh arrangements or for drying.
