Hydrangea paniculata Sparkling

Translation:

Hydrangea paniculata 'Sparkling' is a recent variety of paniculate hydrangea with a very compact and well-ramified habit. Early-flowering, it is covered from mid-May with abundant and subtly perfumed white flowers. At the end of summer, the flowers turn pink, adding an additional level of attraction to this appealing variety. Accommodating towards the soil and not requiring heath soil to grow, it only fears drought. Its low growth allows it to be used in masses in small gardens and also to be grown in a container. One of the best Hydrangeas to start in the garden.

Hydrangea paniculata, also called Paniculate Hydrangea, is a particularly hardy species of hydrangea belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family native to the leafy forests of China and Japan. It is easy to grow in any good garden soil that remains a little moist. In the past, there were only large-growth varieties, but breeders have worked a lot on this species to introduce many compact cultivars. In the 1970s, botanist Jelena de Belder introduced to the market the Pink Diamond variety which quickly caused a sensation with its white flowers that change colour during flowering.

The 'Sparkling' variety ("sparkling" in reference to its flowers that burst out in all directions) is particularly spectacular for its abundance of blooms, as well as its early and long-lasting nature. From mid-May to September, this small Hydrangea produces slightly perfumed white inflorescences, composed of small central fertile flowers surrounded by spread-out sterile florets. This flowering, quite similar to some Viburnums, gives the shrub both a natural and romantic appearance. During the summer, the colour of the inflorescences gradually turns into a charming old pink, well contrasted against the medium green foliage.

With relatively slow growth, this shrub gradually reaches 1 m (3 ft 4 in) to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in height for about 90 cm (35.4 in) in width. The deciduous foliage falls in autumn. This shrub is very hardy, down to -25 or even -30 °C (-13 to -22 °F). It withstands the sun very well, which is a definite advantage for this category of shrubs. It tolerates partial shade, but not complete shade.

The small growth of this Sparkling hydrangea allows it to also be grown in a large container on a terrace. Ideal for all gardeners frustrated by not being able to plant Hydrangea macrophylla, for lack of having the right soil and climate, this hydrangea does not need to be grown in acidic soil; a neutral or even slightly calcareous soil suits it well provided it does not dry out too much. It can therefore be planted alongside a wide range of plants and can be combined with early-flowering shrubs such as the remarkable and less commonly grown Stachyurus praecox, whose small yellow bells appear before the leaves in early spring. Its wild appearance and graceful flowering will perfectly match the romantic charm of this Hydrangea. Spring spiraeas will also be good companions, such as Spiraea arguta with its natural habit and arched branches covered with small white flowers.