Hydrangea paniculata ‘Wims Red’ #3 (Fire and Ice™ Panicle Hydrangea)

Fire and Ice™ Hydrangea is a cultivar of the Panicle Hydrangea, native to China and Japan. According to the Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Evaluation Notes which are based on a 20-year trial of Hydrangea paniculata cultivars, Fire and Ice™ earned top marks and “was a consistent top-performer based on flower display and habit quality. The 8-inch pyramidal inflorescences, roughly as wide as tall, opened white and began changing to pink in late July to early August; the color darkened to red by autumn. The frothy look of the flowers was due to the many fertile florets accented by large sterile florets. Dark red to deep burgundy stems were a significant attribute setting FIRE AND ICE™ apart from most cultivars. Even with annual pruning, plants were 68 inches tall and 77 inches wide, which was nearly at the top of the expected height range of 3-6 feet.”

This is an early-blooming variety with four seasons of interest, with its abundant blooms, dark red stems, and attractive exfoliating winter bark. It makes a very ornamental specimen or accent plant, it shines in shrub borders and foundation plantings, for massing in the landscape and it can even be grown in large containers! Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring and blooming will occur on the current season’s growth.

Sources:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Chicago Botanic Garden-Plant Evaluation Notes