Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata 'Bulk'

$78³³ $83⁹³

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Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

#3 Container

Product variants

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Disease resistant, Flowering, Fragrant, and Attracts pollinators

Specifications

Botanical Name

Hydrangea paniculata 'Bulk'
Height

6-8 ft
Width

6-8 ft
Growing Zones

4-8
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- Red
- Pink
- White
Leaf Color
- Green
Fall Color

Yellow, Purple
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, OR

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

The panicle Hydrangea is one of the most adaptable types, but a great location makes a difference in bloom quality.

Sunlight: Give your Quick Fire a minimum of four to six hours of direct sunlight daily for the best flower production and sturdy, upright stems. While it handles more shade than other types, too little sun will result in sparse flowering and a slightly weaker, lankier habit.
Soil: This plant thrives in well draining, moisture retentive soil. If you have heavy clay, incorporate several inches of high quality compost or finely ground pine bark to improve drainage and prevent root saturation. For sandy soil, the compost will help hold onto the essential moisture the roots need.

Watering Requirements

During its first season, give the plant a deep, soaking drink two to three times per week to encourage a deep and extensive root system. Once established, it is quite drought tolerant, but for consistently large and vibrant blooms, aim to provide about an inch of water weekly, especially during dry spells. Inconsistent watering during the summer heat can cause significant leaf wilt and lead to stressed blooms that turn papery and brown prematurely.

Pruning Tips

The Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea blooms reliably on new wood, meaning the flower buds form on the growth produced in the current spring. The ideal time to prune is in late winter or early spring before the new leaves emerge. You can safely cut the entire shrub back by up to one third to maintain its size and shape, or simply remove the oldest, weakest, and crossing branches at the base. This process stimulates vigorous new growth, which produces the largest and sturdiest stems ready to hold up the beautiful flower heads.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a slow release, balanced granular fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 formulation, right as the new growth begins to swell in early spring. This Hydrangea is not a heavy feeder, so one application is usually all it needs for the season. What to avoid is applying high nitrogen fertilizer after mid July, as this encourages tender, late season growth that will not have time to harden off before the first frost, making it vulnerable to winter damage.

Growing Zones 4-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea | Nature Hills

Ignite Your Garden Early With Quick Fire® Hydrangea

Start the Hydrangea season off in style with the dazzling Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Bulk'), the earliest blooming paniculata on the market. This flowering shrub explodes into bloom up to a month before other Hydrangeas, bringing snowy-white lacecap flowers that blush to pink and deepen into a bold rose-pink as the summer progresses. Quick Fire® is known for its strong stems that hold blooms upright without flopping, fiery fall foliage, and show-stopping four-season appeal.

Not just a one-season wonder, this Proven Winners® selection keeps delivering: quilted foliage with red stems, long-lasting cut and dried flowers, and autumn color in glowing shades of gold, red, and burgundy. Its bold form and resilience make it an all-around landscape favorite.

Native to Asia and part of the Hydrangea family, paniculatas are prized for its toughness and reliability. Unlike bigleaf types, their bloom color doesn't shift with soil pH, keeping Quick Fire® consistently spectacular. Historically, Hydrangeas have symbolized gratitude and grace - and this beauty captures both in every panicle.

>>Jump to Planting & Care Instructions

Key Features

Earliest blooming Hydrangea paniculata - up to one month ahead of others
Huge lacecap flowers: snowy white to blush to vivid rose-pink
Quilted foliage and dramatic red stems for contrast
Fiery fall color with red, gold, and burgundy leaves
Long-lasting cut or dried flower arrangements
Sturdy, upright stems - no flopping!
Four-season interest: spring to winter charm
Low-maintenance, Proven Winners® favorite

Landscaping Uses

Quick Fire® is the perfect mid-sized Hydrangea for adding early-season flowers and four-season appeal to your yard. Growing about 6–8 feet tall and wide, it fits beautifully into foundation plantings, borders, and large containers.

Flowering hedges: space 3–5 feet apart for a dense wall of color
Mass plantings: create a dramatic focal point in the landscape
Containers: ideal for patios, decks, and entryways
Screening plants: combine with evergreens for layered backdrops
Specimens: use as a foundation anchor or corner highlight

Care & Maintenance

Quick Fire® Hydrangea thrives in USDA zones 3–8, making it one of the most cold-hardy Hydrangeas available. This deciduous flowering shrub is a true garden workhorse that's also incredibly easy to maintain.

Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall for root establishment
Sun Requirements: Full sun preferred; part shade in hot climates
Soil Requirements: Grows in fertile, well-drained soils; mound up heavy clay areas if needed
Moisture Needs: Keep evenly moist, especially in spring and bloom time; use the Finger Test for watering; young plants need regular moisture their first year
Mulch: Apply a 3–4 inch layer of bark or Arborist mulch to conserve moisture and protect roots
Fertilization: Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring; compost is beneficial
Pruning Info: Blooms on new wood - prune in late winter or early spring (Hydrangea pruning guide)
Special Perks: Low-maintenance, cold-hardy, deer-resistant, and disease-resistant

Don't forget Nature Hills Root Booster for lifelong mycorrhizal root support.

Quick Fire® Lights Up Your Garden

Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea isn't just early - it's spectacular. From the first blush of summer through fiery fall color and winter interest, this Hydrangea delivers nonstop beauty. A true four-season standout, it deserves a prime spot in your yard.

Order your Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea today from Nature Hills and enjoy the earliest Hydrangea show in your neighborhood!

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata 'Bulk'

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Specifications