Kick off the hydrangea season with a bang- Quick Fire panicle hydrangea! This sturdy lacecap variety is the very first to bloom each year. Here in Michigan, that's usually on Fourth of July, which, coupled with careful additional selections, could mean you could have a different panicle hydrangea blooming for nearly three months every summer. The beautiful, porcelain-like blooms of Quick Fire hydrangea start out white and soon age to a fiery red tone which lasts through frost. Quick Fire hydrangea also boasts very distinctive foliage - deeply ribbed, with a red stem connecting it to the branch, and some of the nicest fall color you'll see on any hydrangea. 

What makes Quick Fire different than other panicle hydrangeas?
- Very early to bloom, expanding the hydrangea season several weeks toward its beginning
- Some of the highest-quality foliage of any hydrangea, it's quite handsome and distinctive

Details:

Name: Hydrangea paniculata 
Hardiness: USDA zones 3-8
Height + width: 6-8'
Light: Full to part sun
Soil: Any well-drained soil will do. Though dry conditions are unlikely to harm an established plant, prolonged drought will cause flowers to brown and wilt instead of develop a good pink color.
Pruning: Blooms on new wood; prune back by one-third in late winter/early spring for better habit and a slight improvement in stem strength.
Water: Average water needs. Does not tolerate wet conditions.
Fertilizer: Fertilize once in early spring with a rose fertilizer if desired.
Bloom time: Early-mid summer
Bloom color: White, aging to red. Red color persists through frost.
Uses: Quick Fire hydrangea is outstanding as a specimen or flowering hedge. Thanks to its flower power and quality foliage, it truly is an eminently garden-worthy plant.