Hydrangea paniculata Living Pink & Rose®

Hydrangea paniculata 'Living Pink & Rose®' is an attractive paniculate hydrangea. Its mid- to dark green foliage beautifully showcases its white flowering in late June. The impressively large panicles then turn to light pink in August before finishing in dark pink at the start of autumn. Its relatively compact and very dense habit makes it a highly decorative shrub, suitable even for the smallest gardens, as well as for container growing. This very hardy hydrangea does not require acid soil and can grow in most soil types, except those that are too chalky, too dry, or conversely, poorly drained. Its romantic charm and the abundance of its flowering are captivating for over three months during the growing season.

Hydrangea is the flagship genus of the Hydrangeaceae family, which includes about fifteen others, some very common, such as Deutzia, and others more obscure, like Carpenteria. The Hydrangea genus includes over seventy wild species and many horticultural cultivars, as the plant, revered in the Far East, inspires breeders. 'Living Pink & Rose®' is a variety from the Livings Creations range, obtained by Dutch breeder Alex Schoemaker, a nurseryman in Boskoop, a major production hub in the Netherlands. The ornamental qualities of this shrub earned it a silver medal at the KVBC horticultural competition in 2021, whose aim is to select the best plants to offer to gardening enthusiasts. 
At maturity, this hydrangea forms a beautiful, truly dense clump 1.30 m tall and 1.20 m wide. The many erect stems, which open slightly towards the top, giving it a flared habit, are covered with oval leaves with pointed tips, in a beautiful, fairly dark green. Towards the end of June, the inflorescences appear as large conical panicles, made up of a multitude of small flowers tightly packed together. These impressively large inflorescences measure approximately 17 cm long and are produced in abundance. At the start of the season, they are pure white, creating a strong contrast with the foliage, eye-catching in the garden. Then, gradually, they slowly turn light pink in August. At the end of the season, as autumn approaches, the pink becomes darker and darker, and with cool nights, the large panicles can practically turn red. The flowering, which lasts for about 100 days, makes it one of the best summer-flowering shrubs, deserving a place in every garden. Tolerating not-too-intense sun as well as partial shade, it accepts both acid and moderately chalky soils, only disliking excessive drought or water. Its proven hardiness (approx. -30°C) and its suitability for container growing further enhance its appeal. Moreover, as it blooms on new wood, it is thus less susceptible to late frosts. 

Hydrangea paniculata 'Pink & Rose®' is one of those must-have plants for the garden! Few shrubs display the same ornamental potential while being surprisingly easy to grow. With exceptional floribundity, it will allow you to create a permanent, spectacular display by combining it with other plants with staggered flowering. To start the season, nothing beats a Forsythia to light up the often grey March and April sky with yellow. In May-June, Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus' will treat you to its fragrant white flowers, while its golden foliage will brighten your border throughout the growing season. Make sure to give it a semi-shaded location to protect it from the harshest sun rays. If you only have a spot in the sun, choose instead a Weigelia florida 'Nana Variegata', whose green foliage variegated with creamy white will equally enhance your scene. Its light pink trumpet-shaped flowers in May-June repeat bloom in autumn.