Hydrangea 'Framboisine'

Panicle hydrangea 'Framboisine' (Hydrangea paniculata 'Rensam') takes its raspberry name literally: the conical heads open cream-white and, by the end of summer, fill with a deep raspberry colour. The bush stays compact and bushy, and the strong shoots hold the panicles level instead of collapsing in the rain.

Plant it in small gardens, on terraces and in containers, wherever you want rich colour without much bulk. A mature bush is 1.2 m tall and 1.2 m wide, so it fits where 'Levana' would be far too large. It flowers from July to September and is at its most striking late in the season, as the colour deepens.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The name means "raspberry", and the colour proves it: by late summer the white heads fill with a deep raspberry tone.
• Dimensions: At 10 years 1.2 m tall and 1.2 m wide.
• Hardiness: Hardy to -40 °C (USDA zone 3), overwintering without cover.
• Flowering: From July to September the cream-white flowers gradually take on a raspberry tone.
• Light: Full sun or partial shade - both positions suit it equally well.
• Soil: Loves soil rich in organic matter, moderately moist yet well-drained; loam and clay suit it perfectly.
• Watering: Water moderately and regularly so the soil stays evenly moist - no drying out and no standing water.
• Care: It flowers on the current year's shoots, so prune with confidence in late winter or early spring.
• Landscape use: Groups and drifts in a mixed border, a specimen on the lawn or an informal hedge - all of it flowering at the end of summer.
• Origin: A French cultivar raised by Jean Renault, awarded a bronze medal at the Plantarium 2019 show.