Hydrangea paniculata Magical Vesuvio

Hydrangea paniculata 'Magical Vesuvio' (Kolmaves) is a very recent paniculate hydrangea variety that stands out for its colourful flowering and small growth, well adapted to cultivation in large pots and very useful for arranging small spaces. This low but very bushy shrub seduces with the beautiful changing colour of its flowers, consisting of very coquettish conical panicles. They bloom in July, in white, then they gradually become coloured in dark red to purple tones, until September-October. In the garden, one can easily imagine this elegant shrub installed near a window or leaning against a porch, for example.

Hydrangea paniculata, also called Paniculate Hydrangea, is a species belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family native to the leafy forests of China and Japan. This mountain shrub is particularly hardy and tolerates the sun and even sea spray better than Hydrangea macrophylla. It is fairly accommodating in terms of soil, only fearing overly heavy, calcareous or dry soils.

The 'Magical Vesuvio' variety, recently obtained in the Netherlands, shows a dense and  compact habit. The main branches are upright, while the secondary ones are slightly arched. At maturity, this variety will not exceed 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in all directions, with rather quick growth. In July, numerous small conical panicles bloom on the shoots of the year; these are quite tight, 20-25 cm (7.9-9.8 in) long. They contain numerous fertile, single florets, evolving from a white hue to deep raspberry-red and purple in autumn, when in a sunny exposure. This inflorescence, which contains a few tiny downy sterile florets, barely bends the youngest branches. 'Magical Vesuvio' has well-ramified vegetation and branches of a very dark colour. They bear finely dentate, ovate leaves of a rather dark green colour, sometimes tinged with purple, measuring 5 to 15 cm (2 to 5.9 in) long and 5 to 7 cm (2 to 2.8 in) wide. They turn yellow in autumn before disappearing in winter. Paniculate hydrangeas are less sensitive to late frosts, as they usually flower on the shoots of the year.

Installed in any good garden soil without too much limestone, Hydrangea paniculata 'Magical Vesuvio' shows rapid growth without occupying too much space in a small garden. This is a particularly colourful variety, which can be installed alone, in a low hedge or in a massif, or in light undergrowth, mixed with other hydrangeas and perpetual roses to play with contrasts and shapes. You can also combine it with grasses such as Miscanthus, Panicum virgatum Squaw and Stipa. Its small stature also allows it to be grown without difficulty in a large pot on the terrace where it will live for many years, with some applications of fertiliser and regular watering.