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Quick Fire Fab® Panicle Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata

Flower Season
  • Summer
  • Fall
Mature Size
8' 6' 2.4m 1.8m
Height: 6' - 8'
Spread: 5' - 6'
Height: 1.8m - 2.4m
Spread: 1.5m - 1.8m
  • Details

    72 - 96 Inches
    60 - 72 Inches
    60 - 72 Inches
    1.8m - 2.4m
    1.5m - 1.8m
    1.5m - 1.8m

    Features

    Absolutely fabulous!

    Quick Fire Fab® panicle hydrangea shares the same super-early bloom time, rock-solid reliability, and easy-going nature of the original Quick Fire hydrangea, but adds big, full, showy mophead blooms to the mix. How fabulous is that? It's the best way to get the earliest possible panicle hydrangea flowers, expanding the seasonal display by two weeks or more every year. 

    If you look closely at the lush blooms, you'll see each floret has an unusual cruciform shape which gives them a textural effect you won't find in other panicle hydrangeas. As the blooms age, they turn blush pink, then bright pink, then red, from the bottom up, making each one look like a big delicious ice cream cone that goes from vanilla to berry as the summer progresses. Quick Fire Fab provides 3+ months of flowers and color in your landscape or garden, and does it all with almost no work or effort from you.

    Top reasons to grow Quick Fire Fab hydrangea:

    - The earliest blooming mophead panicle hydrangea - enjoy extra weeks of blooms

    - Unique X-shaped flowers go from white to pink to bright pink to deep red through the season

    - Strong, sturdy stems keep blooms clean, upright, and showy all year round

    Quick Fire Fab hydrangea will be available in better garden centers beginning spring 2021. Click here for a list of retailers. 

    Long Blooming
    Fall Interest
    Deadheading Not Necessary

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Shrub
    Shrub Type: 
    Deciduous
    Height Category: 
    Tall
    Garden Height: 
    72 - 96 Inches 1.8m - 2.4m
    Spacing: 
    60 - 72 Inches 1.5m - 1.8m
    Spread: 
    60 - 72 Inches 1.5m - 1.8m
    Flower Colors: 
    Pink
    Flower Colors: 
    Red
    Flower Colors: 
    White
    Flower Shade: 
    White, turning bright pink and red shades in fall
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    Green
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Part Sun to Sun
    Light Requirement: 
    Sun

    The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Blooms On: 
    New Wood
    Bloom Time: 
    Early Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Mid Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Summer
    Hardiness Zones: 
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Needs Good Drainage
    Soil Fertility Requirement: 
    Average Soil
    Soil PH Category: 
    Acidic Soil
    Soil PH Category: 
    Alkaline Soil
    Soil PH Category: 
    Neutral Soil
    Uses: 
    Border Plant
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Cut Flower
    Uses: 
    Dried Flower
    Uses: 
    Good for Screening
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses: 
    Mass Planting
    Uses: 
    Specimen or Focal Point
    Uses Notes: 

    With its full size and vigorous growth, Quick Fire Fab will make a commanding specimen in the landscape or a truly memorable flowering hedge. If you are looking for something similar but smaller, consider Fire Light Tidbit or Little Quick Fire hydrangea. 

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Prune by cutting back the main branches by one-third in late winter or early spring. You may also prune in late fall, once it has gone completely dormant, if desired - you'll find more information in our Ultimate Guide to Panicle Hydrangeas

    Panicle hydrangeas require well-drained soil. As such, we do not recommend amending the soil when you plant them, as explained here

    Fertilize in early spring (just as the ground begins to thaw in cold climates) if desired, using a granular rose fertilizer. You may fertilize monthly through late July for more rapid growth, but this is not necessary for a healthy, abundantly-blooming plant.

    Quick Fire Fab® Hydrangea paniculata 'SMNHPM' USPP 32,513, Can PBRAF
  • 5 Reviews

    5
    5
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    1
    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • The perfect hydrangea! Strong, low maintenance, changes from white to to pink to red. Holds up to the summer heat, and keeps it's attractive blooms throughout fall without browning. Have 10 of these and want more!

      Jessica
      , Pennsylvania
      , United States
      , 23 weeks ago
    • Back again for my summer of 2023 update! The 30 quart sized Quick Fire Fire Fab hydrangeas I planted in the spring of 2021 have EXPLODED with SOOO many HUGE blooms! I'm talking about at least 1000 blooms! All 30 have survived thus far. The one that I accidentally ran over completely with my lawn mower in 2021 has made a full recovery. Very strong hydrangeas and I'll be grabbing a few more this season to complete my hedge. I'm planning to install drip irrigation to make my watering time hassle free, which previously caused some blooms to dry out because I just couldn't get out there as I'd like. Also, looking for some type of support/cage to ensure the large blooms and branches stay upright after storms to keep their tall bushy look. I wish there was a way to upload a photo because these hydrangeas are delightful!!

      stephen badea
      , Michigan
      , United States
      , 44 weeks ago
    • Quick Fire Fab is my favorite of all the Proven Winners hydrangeas. The stems are strong. It’s a very full plant and has grown so much and done so well in just a year. I purchased 1 just to try out in 2022 and I regret not getting more. Its performance has just been superb, and I dare say far superior to all of the other Proven Winners hydrangea I have. Full of beautiful bloom that start earlier than Limelight, limelight prime, Bobo, little lime. Get this plant. You will not regret it. In fact, get 3 at least.

      Cyndie
      , Illinois
      , United States
      , 1 year ago
    • I planted 30 quart size Quick Fire Fab's in spring 2021 to make a beautiful hedge for my wife. They tripled in size with minimal care being watering and managed to get a half dozen blooms from them this season. The deer trimmed the leaves and stems a little for me in the fall so I don't think I'll touch them next year. I'll check back in next year. Happy planting!

      Stephen
      , Michigan
      , United States
      , 3 years ago
    • This hydrangea is easy to grow. Blooms in late spring/early summer.

      Fran Book
      , Pennsylvania
      , United States
      , 4 years ago
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