Panicle hydrangea 'Petite Cherry'

Panicle hydrangea 'Petite Cherry' (Hydrangea paniculata 'Petite Cherry') is a little cherry for your garden. The small bush is covered all over in neat dense panicles: they open lime-green, then turn pink, and by September deepen to a rich cherry red.

This is one of the smallest panicle hydrangeas - about 0.5-0.6 m tall and 0.4 m wide. It needs neither staking nor room to spread, so plant it at the front of a border, in a rockery or in a good container on the terrace. It flowers from June to October and takes heat in its stride.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: It starts flowering in June, earlier than most hydrangeas, and by September the name comes true literally: the bush is covered in cherry-red panicles.
• Dimensions: 0.5-0.6 m tall and 0.4 m wide at 10 years.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -25 °C (USDA zone 5).
• Flowering: It flowers long and generously - June to October: lime-green panicles deepen to cherry red by September.
• Light: Full sun or partial shade, and the variety takes heat well.
• Soil: It takes readily to organically rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil; the one thing it dislikes is standing water.
• Watering: Moderate watering: keep the soil evenly moist through the season.
• Care: It flowers on the current year's shoots, so prune in late winter or early spring.
• Landscape use: Ideal at the front of a border, in a low group, a rockery or a container on the terrace.
• Origin: A French selection by Lilaveronica from the Petite series; the registered cultivar name is 'Couharie', with EU plant breeders' rights.