My Quick Fire is just starting to bloom!

15 years ago

Finally, my Quick Fire is just starting to bloom! Obviously, this is barely starting, but it is pretty already :-) I can't wait for it to be in full bloom and then turn red!

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Comments (13)

mehearty
15 years ago
It looks lovely Ostrich! Does yours really get red? Mine probably goes "blush" at its darkest. It's such a perfect hydrangea, but I still haven't gotten over the color. **sulk**
ostrich
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi mehearty! It's good to hear from you! :-)

Yes, when the stems first came out in early spring, they are really quite red! Now, I have this in a full sun location. I wonder if that made a difference? Is yours in full sun?

mehearty, how big is your QF now?
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mehearty
15 years ago
Oh Ostrich, it's probably at least 5 feet at its highest point. It lost quite a few branches due to heavy snow last winter. The very cool thing about this plant is that we just had about a week of heavy rain, and man she sent up a bunch of new branches where the old ones broke off. They seemed to appear overnight. This isn't a great pic as the bed was a mess from all the rain (note the rain bucket next to QF lol). You can see there are about 5 branches shooting straight up in the center without buds. Those are what just appeared in the span of a week. =-O

And just because QF is hiding the first blooms of ES, I'll put a pic here because I'm a proud mama. =)

As always, it's a pleasure to "see" you!

~MH
ostrich
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi mehearty!

Yes, that is one vigorous shrub, that QF! :-)

I wonder how long it took for yours to get to 5' tall? 3 years? Also, do you prune it back at all?

Oh yes, your ES is so full of lovely buds and blooms! Very nice indeed!
mehearty
15 years ago
Ostrich the first year it didn't grow much. The second year it shot right up to 5'. It seriously went crazy. I'm interested to see how big it gets this year (its 3rd). I only pruned the broken stems. I probably should have shaped it a bit better, but I wanted to see what it would do naturally.

=)
ego45
15 years ago
I have two of QF since last summer. I let both of them grow naturaly and didn't prune a single branch for shape yet, but one of them already produced 4'+ strong vertical shoot and I'm thinking about training it into the tree. Just in case I staked that shoot and will see how it will behave. If it will grow to about 6' this season shrub will be transformed into tree next spring.

BTW, expect flood of Limelight-trees all over the country in a next few years, possibly starting even this year.
Limelight's natural upright habit and strong canes makes it a perfect subject for tree-training. Since it had been in commerce already for 5 years growers had enough time to create trees.
I already saw pallets of Limelight-trees prepared to be loaded on a truck at one nearby wholesale nursery.
ostrich
Original Author
15 years ago
George, I actually pruned my QF early this spring. There was a very tall stem, so I just cut it back. I did not touch the rest. I really like how it looks now. Anyway, there was no single stem for me to train this into a tree... sigh...

Yes, I expect a lot of Limelight trees too! I saw some for sale online, so I knew that they must be coming! I still like my SM tree though - it is so different. BUT, I just hope that I won't kill off this one too!!! Sigh...
mehearty
15 years ago
Hmmmmm I hadn't even thought of training QF into a standard. You're so good with hydrangea, George!
ditas
15 years ago
Hi Ostrich - W/ fingers crossed I'll try & see if I can send this thru. I hope it works!

http://picasaweb.google.com/ditas1/KyushuQFHP/photo#5216384092333677634
ego45
15 years ago
MD, it works. Now you could un-cross your fingers :-)
Your Kuyshu-tree has an outstanding form. Truly!
Keep it up!
ditas
15 years ago
Gee thanks George! How were you able to open the link, I couldn't? - I figured you Comp savyys will know what to do! I missed doing 1 more step to get the album posted ... oh well!

I didn't trim her top, what so ever, just her fizzled tresses, in Apr - every stem has a finial, she'll really be top-heavy & gorgeous!!!

Hey George, I'm planning on putting another H.p. next to QF for '09 (digging up a couple of Lady A Duff Peonies. Do you think Lime L?

Appreciate you thoughts - TIA!
ostrich
Original Author
15 years ago
ditas, your princess Kyu is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! It is so full and lush! It's even pretty in winter!
ditas
15 years ago
Thank you much, Ostrich - you can see why I have been taking my grand-dau to the nursery with me ... seems like she has a natural eye for a 'garden beauty'. She misses tending to her beautiful garden bed since she started Kinderg, now that she is 6y/o - even missed our annual Mayday dirt digging ritual! She helped pick out AB, Annabelle, Pee Wee & Mariesii V - our 'Happy Mom's Day' dirtdigging!!! :-)))

Sorry to get off on QF - anyway QF (3.5' x 4'w) is fast catching up with LL (4'x5'w - just a yr apart in the ground) they are practically holding hands & happy together! Soon QF will end up being the big sis tending to L.L! BTW have any input on a '09 H.p. next to QF?

Again many thanks! :-)