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Little Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata

Flower Season
  • Summer
Mature Size
5' 5' 1.5m 1.5m
Height: 3' - 5'
Spread: 3' - 5'
Height: 91cm - 1.5m
Spread: 91cm - 1.5m
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  • Details

    36 - 60 Inches
    36 - 60 Inches
    36 - 60 Inches
    91cm - 1.5m
    91cm - 1.5m
    91cm - 1.5m

    Features

    Dwarf form of the popular Quick Fire® hydrangea!

    Like Quick Fire, it is early blooming, flowering about a month before other hydrangeas. White flowers transform to pink-red as summer progresses. This dwarf plant fits easily into any landscape, including container gardens. Add it to your existing hydrangea garden to extend the blooming season.

    As seen in our Early Riser ad.

    Why grow Little Quick Fire panicle hydrangea?

    • Months of color
    • Compact size
    • Easy care regimen
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    Drought Tolerant
    Attracts: 
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Small or Miniature

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Shrub
    Shrub Type: 
    Deciduous
    Height Category: 
    Medium
    Garden Height: 
    36 - 60 Inches 91cm - 1.5m
    Spacing: 
    36 - 60 Inches 91cm - 1.5m
    Spread: 
    36 - 60 Inches 91cm - 1.5m
    Flower Colors: 
    Pink
    Flower Colors: 
    White
    Flower Shade: 
    white flowers turn pink in later summer
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    green
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Part Sun to Sun
    Light Requirement: 
    Sun

    The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Blooms On: 
    New Wood
    Bloom Time: 
    Early Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Mid Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Summer
    Hardiness Zones: 
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Uses: 
    Border Plant
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Cut Flower
    Uses: 
    Dried Flower
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses Notes: 

    This dwarf form of Quick Fire fits easily into any landscape. Use it in a mixed border, or as a showy specimen or foundation plant. Its early bloom time will extend your garden's hydrangea season.

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Trim in late winter/early spring. Apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring. Flower color is not affected by soil pH.

    Little Quick Fire® Hydrangea paniculata 'SMHPLQF' USPP 25,136, Can 5,406
  • 17 Reviews

    5
    11
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    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • I planted several Little Quick Fires in an afternoon full sun location. I was told that was the absolutely the worst place to plant them, wrong! After three years they are beautiful vigorous shrubs. The first year I did feed and water them often. Now, I give them a good dose of Rise Tone when they start to green in the early spring. Then another dose when they bloom. They are absolutely beautiful and basically care free.

      Blakeney Adams
      , North Carolina
      , United States
      , 34 weeks ago
    • I purchased 2 of these and they are in their 4th spring. The last 3 summers after planting they were in a dappled area, but in the middle of summer, they just kind of crashed and burned. I was sure they had died, only to have them reappear the next year looking the same. So I would think, well--maybe this is their year.. Even when they have gotten leaves, they haven't been strong and honestly looked better when I brought them home 4 springs ago from the garden center, and not a centimeter bigger. But regardless, they have hung on for dear life (a real bonus considering--lol), so I have moved them this spring to a sunnier place in my garden, and already they look tons better. When I dug them out of their original home, the roots had not spread at all. There was zero shock when I put them in the ground even though they had begun to leaf out. Already, I think they are more hopeful. I amended the soil, gave them a little spring fertilizer, and I am hoping their temper tantrum is over. Anyhow, bonus points for not dying even when unhappy. Can't wait to see if this is the year for vigor. :)

      Kelby Goodnight Munson
      , Georgia
      , United States
      , 45 weeks ago
    • 3 year review: I planted this in fall of 2020. I bought the 4.5 quart size of this plant because I was planting it over some electrical lines and didn't want to dig very deep. I have a lot of GA clay around the area so I'm impressed it has established so well next to my mailbox in a fairly small hole. It had one large bloom the first summer (bloomed in August) and nice large leaves. I didn't prune and the 2nd year it has at least 12 large blooms that bloomed earlier (June). This is the perfect size plant for the area that it is in and adds interest from spring through fall (the leaves turn a pretty bronze color before falling off for the winter). Living around the Atlanta area, my blooms do turn from a creamy white to a pinkish red. This is the first proven winners plant I've bought and I can see why people love them so much. I couldn't be happier with this statement hydrangea.

      Lauren
      , Georgia
      , United States
      , 1 year ago
    • 3 year review: I planted this in fall of 2020. I bought the 4.5 quart size of this plant because I was planting it over some electrical lines and didn't want to dig very deep. I have a lot of GA clay around the area so I'm impressed it has established so well next to my mailbox in a fairly small hole. It had one large bloom the first summer (bloomed in August) and nice large leaves. I didn't prune and the 2nd year it has at least 12 large blooms that bloomed earlier (June). This is the perfect size plant for the area that it is in and adds interest from spring through fall (the leaves turn a pretty bronze color before falling off for the winter). Living around the Atlanta area, my blooms do turn from a creamy white to a pinkish red. This is the first proven winners plant I've bought and I can see why people love them so much. I couldn't be happier with this statement hydrangea.

      Lauren
      , Georgia
      , United States
      , 1 year ago
    • I have had a Quick fire and Little Quick Fire for years. As a panicle hydrangea, it gives a DAINTY bloom which is unique. its intial white blooms are SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!! . As it moves into its pink shades it becomes more subtle in the garden..... Which works well for me because other plants become showy. It has STURDY stems that NEVER FLOP... unlike many other panicle hydrangeas and blooms bountifully in shade ... The Autumn color is a fantastic orange!!! No plant is perfect. This one comes close!

      Marie White
      , Michigan
      , United States
      , 1 year ago
    • Disappointed. Proven Winners should be up front and honest and make it clear in the description of this and all pannicle hydrangeas that are advertised to change color that they will NOT TURN PINK in the South. Our hot humid nights are not conducive with the flowers turning from white to pink. Unfortunately, I had to spend too much money on plants that did not perform as advertised to find out.

      Zoey
      , Florida
      , United States
      , 1 year ago
    • I have 2 of these; purchased from a local, independent garden center. My first one was planted 4 years ago as I wanted a smaller, dwarf hydrangea with white flowers. I don't have room for a large, showier snowball and I was drawn to "Little Quick Fire" with the white flowers turning pink as summer progresses. I'm happy with the size, but the flowers are verging on being just ok. These flowers do not deliver a focal point appeal with intense colors, but offer more of an overall blending. I really like the initial creamy white flowers but am not too excited about the duller pinkish hue. Overall, this seems to be relatively hardy plant but be aware it's quite twiggy - a quick clean up is all that is needed. The flowers seem to be a cross of lace-cap and panicle - not really strong in either category. My more established plant gets solid morning sun and seems happy with that; the newer plant I put in last year is getting noon to mid-afternoon sun and isn't as happy, so I will probably move it. This plant does like frequent watering (my soil dries out quickly) and a spring slow release fertilizer is a good idea. I live near the Washington State border and am in a 6 zone, with typical Pacific Northwest weather patterns. If you have a bare spot in your garden bed, and need something to fill in but not be a focal point, this plant might fit the bill. Happy Gardening!

      Helen Alexander
      , British Columbia
      , Canada
      , 2 years ago
    • My first year with these little quick fire hydrangeas in five different containers that line the front of our property. With water and sunlight they’re doing really great. Even have little blooms going now (October) in white/cream/blush/ and even red. Love the variation and I hope they survive for years to come.

      Eric M
      , New Jersey
      , United States
      , 2 years ago
    • I bought two of these plants from HD and I have one in ground and one in a pot both are doing well and the blooms have turned from white to pink they are beautiful.. I can’t wait to see what next year will be like.

      Mari
      , Maryland
      , United States
      , 2 years ago
    • It's first year, it reminded me of a weed and I threatened to get rid of the thing. But this second year, it has busted out all over with tall beautiful bloom that stay bloomed ALL season. The plant made such a fool out of me!

      Sherry Miller
      , Ohio
      , United States
      , 2 years ago
  • 1 Award

    Award Year Award Plant Trial
    2020 Consumer Top Hydrangeas University of Guelph
  • 1 Video

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