Sundae is being marketed as the dwarf version of VS.

There are other red-stemmed ones, but not many mops. Fire Light (Proven Winners) might fit your bill. Fire and Ice is a bit like Quick Fire but a bit smaller.

And I'd give all young paniculatas (especially mops) 3-5 years to begin growing stronger stems. And any old wood you don't trim off will eventually become thicker like trees do.

Sorry at I don't have SS but my SVs are newly planted and upright, prebloom, this first year. I will post a pic later and update you after the blooms pop. I think you have received great info and advice above, for what it's worth.

I saw a hydrangea called 'Zebra' yesterday and it had black stems, and yes, they were jet black. The blooms were pastel white and it was weird! Hahaha. It might have been a Mac though, but your post made me want to mention the different stem color.

Yes, Zebra is a mophead. Has some really nice looking blackish stems on the pictures that I saw.

My SS is in its 2nd year. The flowers are forming as we speak....looks like it is going to bloom around the same time as my VS and Little Lime. It is exactly as they claimed....strong reddish stems just like VS...more red than my Quickfire....the blooms didn't grow as large as my VS though....but it could be that I planted it in midsummer (while it was blooming) so the plant was spending its energy into growing roots (roots was disturbed) rather than forming blooms.

This spring I have it dugged out of my garden and put in a pot (I'm moving and will be taking it with me to the new house) so it may not grow as well as inground.

While we touch on Zebra, I've been trialing one. It's a naturally-occurring mutation of White Ball / Schneeball (F&E White Out). Because of the black stems, it grows a bit taller, because there's something with the genetics of black stemmed hydrangea that makes for longer leaf internodes. But fair warning, it's just as prone to mildew and the blooms also won't take any direct sunlight.

And while we're on macs, there some red stemmed. Besides the obvious like Lady In Red / TnS and Bloomstruck, there is Oregon Pride (sport of Merritt's) as well as a couple in the Black Steel series called Zaza and Zambia (sold in conjunction with Zebra and Zorro but not in North America).

And back to paniculatas, I believe Magical/Mystical Fire and Flame may have ruddy stems. These are Plants Nouveau / Novalis entries in North America.

Hydrangea Pinky winky, odd name , but nice plant. I would check it out, seems to fit what you are looking for

I have Pinky Winky, but the stems aren't particularly red. I think Quickfire is more red.

Lady in Red isn't hardy enough here. I have had one for several years and it just barely survives. I'm not willing to do the whole wrapping thing for winter.

I'll check out Mystical/Magical Fire and Mystical/Magical Flame, though nothing I've read so far has mentioned red stems.

That's interesting. My pinky winky and vanilla strawberry have equally red stems.

Interesting. Are your two PWs planted so they get different amounts of sunlight?

I agree with guyground. Mine VS gets a couple more hours than PW at best. But the other VS in more shade appears the same color.

Thanks to everyone for suggestions and help!

Hmmm. VS stems look brown down here, NHBabs. Wonder why the difference... Another hmmmmmm.... ;o)