Panicle hydrangea 'Pinky Promise'

Panicle hydrangea 'Pinky Promise' (Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Promise') is a compact bush with a three-colour effect. The dense conical panicles open dazzling white, take on a pastel pink, and by autumn deepen to a rich rose - all three tones often on show at once.

A sturdy framework of reddish shoots holds them up, and dark green leaves make the perfect foil. At around 0.9-1 m in height and spread this is a hydrangea for a city garden, a patio, a container or the front of a border. It flowers from July to September and overwinters unprotected to -30 °C.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The name Pinky Promise is exactly that - a promise sealed on the little finger - and the bush keeps it: flowering lasts about a hundred days.
• Dimensions: A rounded, well-balanced shrub: about 0.9-1 m tall and 0.9-1 m wide at 10 years.
• Hardiness: Hardy to -30 °C (USDA zone 4) - it winters with confidence.
• Flowering: From July to September it opens white panicles that later take on a rich pink colour.
• Light: It grows equally well in full sun or partial shade.
• Soil: It loves moist but well-drained loam or clay, and takes acid, neutral or alkaline soil alike.
• Watering: Moderate watering: never let it dry out, and the one thing it dislikes is standing water around the roots.
• Care: An annual spring prune only does it good, since it flowers on the current year's shoots.
• Landscape use: Made for city gardens and patios: excellent in containers, at the front of a border and as a cut flower.
• Origin: A Dutch introduction by Alick Schoemaker (Boskoop, 2017) from the Living Creations series, awarded a KVBC gold medal.