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Little Quick Fire hydrangea question

5 years ago

Hi, so for anyone that grows LQF, just wondering when I can expect to see them leaf out, especially folks gardening in Zone 5b. I was able to snap two last year - 3 gallon containers for $15 at Home Depot. Nice size. I'm sure that they are alive, but since I've never grown them before, I just wondered what I can expect from them as far as when they typically leaf out and size.

Featured Answer

guyground

5 years ago

Most paniculatas are hardy down to zone 3, so they will survive winter throughout the northern US and even into Canada.

Their hardiness you can't beat and with reliable flowering year after year they are the perfect choice for Northern gardeners.

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Comments (10)

luis_pr
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
They leaf out in March all the way down here so sometime in April/later makes sense for you. I have seen them leaf out as early as February in mild winters.

If they do not leaf out or produce new growth by the end of May, then they did not make it.

On its first Spring, times may be "off" from what would be normal times in your area... by a few weeks.
bella rosa thanked luis_pr
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
5 years ago
Here it is May. They leaf out about the time of most of my other shrubs.
bella rosa thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
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You can Google image search for various states of bloom. All hydrangea paniculata begin mostly white and fade to pinks and browns. Both are "dwarf" hydrangea paniculata, as they aren't supposed to exceed 5' in diameter. There would be zero dieback down to zone 3. All paniculata are drought tolerant and require full sun in zone 4. 'Long as the soil stays moist and mostly shaded, little manual watering would be needed. Little Quick Fire just came out this year, so not many people have it. It would be a wise choice for mixed borders as full size QF (like mine) can exceed 7' in diameter. QF (a rare case) should NOT be pruned past early fall (when the leaves turn), and never after the plant begins to leaf out in spring - otherwise you will eliminate blooms before they happen. Little Lime is a top-rated shrub. Each spring, simply prune out tiny outer branches and leave the thickest toward the middle. There are no pruning restrictions on Limelight. QF stems are ruddy in color and have dark, rough, medium sized leaves. Limelights have much lighter stems and leaves (light green across the board).
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TBH, it IS winter and gardening questions and participation on the forums are at a low seasonal ebb :-) I am not of much help as although I love and grow a lot of hydrangeas, my more shady gardens have never lent themselves to growing paniculatas but rather macs, serrulatas or oakleafs. Those that do grow panicles here do remove the spent flowers when they start to look funky and some cut back and some do not. Depends on the cultivar and the siting. So really your choice!!
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biondanonima (Zone 7a Hudson Valley)
5 years ago
My paniculatas are just starting to get buds here in 7a.
bella rosa thanked biondanonima (Zone 7a Hudson Valley)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Paniculatas are way behind macs here. My macs had buds present all winter and are pretty much fully leafed out now but paniculatas are only just now starting to show signs of life. They wll not be in full leaf until sometime next month.
bella rosa thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
guyground
5 years ago
May ! in zone 5.
bella rosa thanked guyground
bella rosa
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks everyone. I'll check them next month. Wish me luck!
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
5 years ago
Yes, May in zone 5. And the way things are going this spring it might be late May.

tj
bella rosa thanked tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
bella rosa
Original Author
5 years ago
i think you're right! it's taking awhile for the plants to wake up in our neck of the woods. of course, the invasive stuff is sprouting already, i.e. ivy. I do hope my LQF made it.
bella rosa
Original Author
5 years ago
So, I checked my LQF hydrangeas and they are alive. I just cut off some of the branches and I could see that they are green. Great news!

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