Hydrangea 'Wim's Red' (Hydrangea paniculata) - garden hydrangea - 17 cm pot - Height 50 cm

The Wim's Red panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Wim's Red') begins to flower in July and continues through September, and even into October in mild climates. It has one of the longest flowering seasons of any summer shrub. At the beginning of the season, the large, cone-shaped panicles open creamy white, then gradually turn pink before reaching a deep, rich red by late summer. This gradual color change gives the shrub a unique charm, as several shades often coexist on the same plant.

At maturity, Wim's Red panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Wim's Red') can reach a height of around 2 metres, or even more when soil conditions and exposure are optimal. It grows quickly: a 17 cm potted plant can gain 50 centimetres or more in a single growing season. Its shape is naturally bushy and upright, with vigorous stems that support the large panicles without flopping.

Yes, Wim's Red panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Wim's Red') is a perfectly hardy shrub in all regions of mainland France, including mountainous areas and regions with cold winters. Unlike bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), it flowers on new wood, which means that even if the stems are damaged by frost, the plant regrows vigorously in spring and flowers normally the same season. Its wood hardens well in autumn, strengthening its winter hardiness.

T'Hortensia paniculé Wim's Red i's adaptable to a wide range of s'unlight conditions, from full sun to partial shade, which sets it apart from m'ore demanding hydrangeas. In full sun, the flowering is abundant and the colors particularly intense, especially the late-season red. In partial shade, under the light cover of l'ightly-foliaged trees, t'he shrub flowers just as generously with slightly lighter but very elegant panicles. However, d'ense and permanent shade should be avoided: the flowering would be compromised and the plant would become leggy.

Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) and Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) are two very distinct species with very different characteristics. The paniculata produces flowers in long, elongated cones (panicles), while the macrophylla forms round balls or flat lacecap flowers. In terms of hardiness, Wim's Red panicle hydrangea is significantly more robust and withstands severe cold without protection, whereas the macrophylla can suffer in cold regions.

The best time to prune the Wim's Red panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Wim's Red') is in late winter, between February and March, just before the growing season begins. The technique consists of cutting back all the previous year's stems to two or three well-formed pairs of buds, or about 30 to 40 cm from the ground for a severe pruning. The shorter the cut, the larger and more impressive the panicles will be, although the total number of flowers may be slightly reduced.

L''Paniculata hydrangeas 'Wim's Red' lend themselves to many combinations in the garden thanks to their long summer flowering season and changing shades from white to red. They make a striking combination with ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus or Pennisetum, whose light plumes contrast with the density of the panicles. Paired with pink or white shrub roses, they create a very romantic border. At the back of a border, they 'match perfectly with late-summer perennials such as 'Echinacea, Rudbeckia or Asters.