Fire Light Tidbit^® Panicle Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata

Initially early this summer, before the plants were in bloom, I purchased and planted 4 of these plants. I have planted and cared for many other hydrangeas, including panicles, over many years and have never lost any. I lost one of the first 4, and now, am losing the other three, while still hanging on for the remaining plant, which I bought to replace the first plant that I lost. They are watered each day in the hot sun because they have been newly planted. None have even shown signs of overwatering, and they are in a raised garden where the drainage is good. Suddenly, a branch starts to show signs of withering leaves while the rest of the plant appears entirely healthy. I continue the regular watering routine that sustained healthy plants for 7 or 8 weeks, and then, without warning, one branch, then the entire plant, wilts and dies over days. I love the plants and hoped they would mature as others report they have done. I have to give a one-star rating because the losses are precipitous and, once a single small branch begins to wither, the process is irreversible. I don't think I can buy again. The garden soil has supported other plants, planting soil was added to support the new plants. and the source of these particular PW plants is a well-know and highly reputable landscape plant center and the plants themselves were healthy and robust when being planted. What to do ?

Well I’m on the fence. I think this is the third season…..and maybe they are just sticking to the sleep, creep, leap rule so that’s why I’m on the fence. Up till this point they have felt thin and whimpy in our winter winds. Snapping off much needed branches and losing some of the growth. With the growth this summer they seem a little better but I wouldn’t say sturdy. It says full sun but every summer they get burnt to a degree and they are producing the beginnings of the flowers but now the top buds are tinged brown from the heat. Last year they bloomed but it wasn’t a show stopper for sure. Hopefully this is the beginning of a beautiful hedge of gorgeous blooms that was the reason I bought 10. The photos on the website are beautiful but so far it hasn’t been my reality.

I was lucky enough to find and buy this plant last fall at a local nursery. I already have Firelight hydrangea and love that shrub so was excited when I was able to get a Tidbit. Thankfully the rabbits left it alone over the winter! It has bloomed beautifully this summer. It is in full sun from sunrise to sunset and the flowers have not browned at all, and they are now starting to change to pink. I love how it has a vase like growth habit, and it hasn't flopped even though we have had some pretty good downpours this summer. I now want another one.

I loved my Fire Light Tidbit so much until it became floppy. The blooms are large and gorgeous and I am so sad to see the stems touching the ground after rain. I'm trying to stake them up, but it's not going well.

Has doubled in size but no flowers.