Hydrangea paniculata 'Bulk' EARLY SENSATION panicle hydrangea
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Hydrangea
The panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to East Asia, naturally occurring in the mountain forests and valleys of China, Korea, Japan, and Russia’s Sakhalin Island. It is distinguished by its strikingly conical panicles composed of small fertile and showy sterile florets, which shift in color over the season from white through pink to wine-red, and by its high tolerance for full sun. The species was botanically described in 1829 by the German physician and botanist Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796–1866), who encountered it during his work in Japan. It reached Europe through botanical collections and expeditions of the 19th century, with the first cultivars such as ‘Grandiflora’ and ‘Floribunda’ spreading in gardens only toward the end of that century.
A milestone in the breeding of Hydrangea paniculata came with the expedition of American dendrologist Charles Sprague Sargent to Japan in 1892. He brought back seeds from which, in the following years, the cultivar ‘Praecox’ was raised—the first documented variety with early flowering. Its beauty was already praised in 1897 in the journal Garden and Forest, and when the plant became established in cultivation, Sargent himself called it in 1922 one of the most beautiful shrubs in the Arnold Arboretum. The original specimen still grows there today as a living botanical monument more than a century old.
Bulk is a tremendous panicle hydrangea variety from the Netherlands, found as a chance seedling by Rein Bulk in 1991. It surprised the breeder for its extremely early flowering producing its first panicles from late May already.
Bulk hydrangea bears large inflorescence composed of both sterile and fertile flowers usually from mid June. They emerge creamy white and mature to rich pink or even light purple. Being long-lasting these pink flowers remain on the plant until new panicles are produced in late summer which makes an attractive show of both white and pink flowers on the same plant. By 2014, Bulk was the longest blooming panicle hydrangea on the market.
Deciduous leaves are ovate to oval, pointed, deep green. Stems are strong, deep burgundy red. We recommend regular pruning every spring before the buds begin to swell. By cutting at least two thirds of previous year’s growth you will get a strong shrub with large flowers and a regular shape. This hydrangea is mostly upright with somewhat pendent side branches.
Im 2006 it had received a trade name Early Sensation which is a little confusing since this name is also used for a mop-head hydrangea from the Forever&Ever® series. It was patented under PP16,812 in 2006.
Last update 23-08-2014
Panicle hydrangeas thrive best in full sun but cope well with light partial shade provided they have sufficient moisture. Soil type is not critical, yet in fertile, deeper and well‑drained ground they produce the largest flower heads and the strongest framework. After planting they need regular watering, as their shallow root system dries out quickly during the first two years; once established they tolerate short summer droughts, although they remain healthier and less prone to wilting in evenly moist soil. They respond very well to feeding, but fertilisers with a lower nitrogen content are preferable to encourage flowering rather than overly lush growth that weakens the stems. They tolerate any aspect and a wide pH range. Each spring before budbreak they require a hard prune, leaving roughly 10 to 20 cm of the previous year’s wood, as they flower exclusively on new shoots. They grow well in containers but need more frequent watering and a sheltered position away from strong winds, which can snap young stems carrying heavy flower heads. Standard forms require a firm staking system, which must be renewed after four to five years to support the increasing weight of the crown. Their cold tolerance reaches approximately –34 °C (USDA zone 4).
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