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Quick Fire hydrangea

The Quick Fire hydrangea is a panicle hydrangea that is remarkably easy to grow. The blooms open in white and then change to pink as they mature on the plant. This plant is adaptable and sun tolerant, with low-maintenance care requirements.

Quick Fire hydrangea basics

The Quick Fire Hydrangea is a panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). This family of hydrangeas is one of the easiest to grow when compared to other types of hydrangeas, so if you want an easy flower bush to grow, choose one of these.

In addition to being easy to grow, these hydrangea plants are also one of the most adaptable. It is the most sun-tolerant and doesn’t need to be pruned very often. All of these qualities apply to the Quick Fire hydrangea, making it a nice low-maintenance bush.

The color of the Quick Fire hydrangea is beautiful. When the buds first bloom, they are white. As the blooms are exposed to the sunlight, the petals turn pink. They will continue to darken throughout the summer and the fall until they reach a dark-rosy pink. You can enjoy a nice range of shades throughout the season.

If you don’t like the color red-pink, this may not be the best one to choose. The Quick Fire Hydrangea will only change from white to pink, and there is nothing that you can do to change the color. Unlike other families of hydrangeas, panicle hydrangeas are not affected by the pH of the soil.

The Quick Fire hydrangea can grow to be quite tall. The tallest it can grow is 96 inches tall (2.4 m). That is quite large! If it doesn’t mature to 96 inches, most can also grow 72 inches tall (1.8 m). So it can still grow to a massive height. The Quick Fire hydrangea also grows to be quite wide. It can grow to be 72-96 inches wide (1.8-2.4 m). If this size is too big, there is a dwarf version available called Little Quick Fire hydrangea that is designed for smaller spaces.

Quick fire hydrangea for sale

How to plant a Quick Fire hydrangea

When you buy your Quick Fire hydrangea, you’ll need to decide if you want to keep it in a planter pot or put it in the ground. You can grow one in a planter pot, but you’ll need to transplant it once it grows bigger. If you plant it directly in the ground, this is a fairly easy process.

You’ll want to find an area of well-drained soil (soil that allows the water to drain effectively). When you add a new plant to your garden, you mix the soil with topsoil or some other nutrient-rich supplement. Do not do this with your Quick Fire Hydrangea. If you do, you put it at risk for root rot and death. What happens with topsoil or other nutrient-rich supplements is that the water will sink into the ground and gather around the roots of the plant. If this happens to a hydrangea, the water will weaken the roots and make them more susceptible to root rot.

To keep your hydrangea healthy, just put it directly in the ground. Put the original soil back in around your hydrangea. That is all you have to do to plant this hydrangea. You’ll need to water it frequently for the first 1-2 years of its life, but then it will be able to tolerate the dryness of an area well.

Quick fire hydrangea blossom

The best place to grow Quick Fire hydrangea

As we mentioned above, Quick Fire hydrangeas are in the family of hydrangeas that are the most sun-tolerant. This means that you can plant a Quick Fire hydrangea in most places around the United States. If you plant your bush in a more sunlit area, you will need to make sure that you give your hydrangea bushes some shade.

They do need some shade. The optimal amount of sunlight for a hydrangea bush is six or more hours. It is recommended that your bush gets 4-6 hours of partial shade and full shade for at least 4 hours. If your flowers are not changing from white to pink, your hydrangea bush is not getting enough sunlight. The sunlight is what triggers the genetic change from white to pink.

In terms of climate, Quick Fire hydrangea is a hardy plant. It can grow in 3a-8b climates. These numbers measure the temperature of a certain area. The lower the number is, the colder it gets during the winter. So, if you live in a region that is measured at an 8, your hydrangea bush is going to need more shade than a hydrangea bush that is planted in Zone 4.

How to prune Quick Fire hydrangea

A Quick Fire Hydrangea doesn’t necessarily have to be pruned. If you decide to prune it, the best time to do this is spring or late fall. If you decide to prune it during the fall, you’ll want to wait until all of the leaves have fallen off. You’ll want to prune it in the spring before it begins to leaf. (A hydrangea bush only begins to bloom when all of the leaves have grown).

Whichever season you decide to prune your bush in, you’ll want to prune it to 1/3 its original height. So, if your hydrangea bush is 6 feet tall (1.8 meters), you’ll want to prune your bush so it is 2 feet tall (0.60 meters). This will give your bush the room it needs to support new growth.

Common pests that attack Quick Fire hydrangea

Quick Fire Hydrangeas can be somewhat attractive to pests, including aphids, spider mites, slugs, and Japanese beetles. Fortunately, recognizing them is fairly straightforward. These pests are all possible to conquer if you have the right tools.

One is to wash the leaves and stems down with soapy water. Another is to treat the whole plant with an organic insecticide. Just be sure to follow the instructions on whatever product you pick

Diseases affecting Quick Fire hydrangea

Quick Fire Hydrangeas are less prone to disease than many other varieties. That said, they are somewhat susceptible to powdery mildew, bud blight, leaf spot, and bacterial wilt. Most of these are caused or exacerbated by overwatering, too much shade, or too little ventilation within your plant.

One way to treat disease is to decrease watering and increase air circulation around the plant. Alternatively, transplant it to an area with better soil drainage or more air movement. You can also apply an organic fungicide if needed (again, follow instructions).

Mary Jane Duford
Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford is a quintessential Canadian gardener. An engineer by trade, she tends to an ever-expanding collection of plants. In her world, laughter blooms as freely as her flowers, and every plant is raised with a dash of Canadian grit.

Mary Jane is a certified Master Gardener and also holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. She's also a proud mom of three, teaching her little sprouts the crucial difference between a garden friend and foe.

When she's not playing in the dirt, Mary Jane revels in her love for Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, ice hockey, and the surprisingly soothing sounds of bluegrass covers of classic hip-hop songs. She invites you to join her garden party, a place where you can share in the joy of growing and where every day is a new opportunity to find the perfect spot for yet another plant.

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