“Quick Passion” hydrangea is just a Panicle hydrangea that’s popular for its ancient booming and dependability. Flowers look a month or two sooner than other varieties and continue through the fall. The blooms begin white, turn pink and deepen to a rich reddish-pink color. “Quick Fire” hydrangea is winter hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 8, withstanding temperatures to 30 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. The plant grows rapidly once established and needs pruning to keep a desired size and a pleasing growth pattern.
Severe Pruning
Severe pruning is done in order to control growth of this plant. Removing the majority of the older wood rejuvenates growth and promotes blooming. Severe pruning might not be needed each year. Allow the plant to grow till it gets too big for the space desired or until the shape is not pleasing to the eye, then prune the plant back. Severe pruning occurs in the fall, winter or early spring. When severe pruning is needed, cut the branches back as desired, leaving a few inches above ground level for new growth in the spring.
General Pruning
“Quick Passion” hydrangea blooms on new wood — the tender new divisions which show up in the spring. To preserve new wood for flowering, major pruning has to be completed before new growth begins in the spring. In USDA zones 3 through 5, prune in early spring, removing dead branches and cutting the bush into your pleasing size. In warmer USDA zones 6 through 8, prune the bush in the fall after all flowers have died back, however, before cold weather sets in. Avoid pruning during the coldest part of the winter to prevent cold damage to tender wood.
Deadheading and Care
Removing dead blossoms, called deadheading, promotes fresh buds to form. It only takes a few minutes to eliminate flowers as they wither, and the effort pays off in increased flower production. Look over the bush and eliminate damaged branches in precisely the exact same moment. This type of maintenance is an ongoing process during the summer. Prune only as needed during the spring and summer.
Pruning to Tree Type
Panicle hydrangeas such as “Quick Fire” could be pruned to tree form, if wanted. To achieve this, suckers that form on the back area during the growing season have to be removed as they look. Keeping the trunk clean improves the tree’s look and directs more of the plant’s energy into flowering.