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Hydrangea paniculata 'HYLV17522' REDLIGHT® panicle hydrangea
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.
REDLIGHT® is a compact panicle hydrangea that, from early July, produces abundant flower clusters about 12–14 cm tall and wide. At the beginning of flowering, the blooms are white to softly lime‑green, gradually deepening over the summer into vivid, even strikingly pink shades that make them impossible to overlook in September, bringing vibrancy and freshness among fading perennials. The leaves are rich green, deciduous, and the sturdy, upright branches hold the inflorescences without the need for staking. A mature plant reaches about one meter in height, making it ideal even for smaller gardens or containers.
This cultivar is part of the Gardenlights® series, which is introduced and marketed through Nick van Rosmalen’s company BREEDIT, supporting breeders with licensing and distribution. The actual breeder of is Dutch nurseryman Lendert de Vos of Kwekerij Lendert de Vos in Reeuwijk. The variety is protected by these patents: PP35447 (USA – 2023) and 66445 (EU – 2024).
REDLIGHT® can make a charming little shrub in a small garden, working beautifully as a modest specimen with ever‑changing colour that you will love summer through autumn. Or – if your garden is a bit larger – take a bolder approach and turn it into a low hedge, a border divider that will look stunning when paired with the right companions. In summer it pairs gracefully with pastel‑toned shrubs such as deciduous ceanothus or dwarf butterfly bushes. For a brighter spark, both large‑ and small‑flowered hypericum will do the trick, while dark‑leaved perennials like actaea, ligularia, or lobelia bring a touch of drama. And of course, it also looks excellent among evergreen shrubs – either as a foreground planting if they are taller, or intermingled with dwarf forms. To soften the effect, weave in a few smaller grasses such as pennisetum, molinia, Calamagrostis or deschampsia.
Panicle hydrangeas grow best in full sun, though they also tolerate partial shade and even shade, where they flower somewhat later. They are not overly demanding in soil type, but in fertile, well-drained ground they are at their finest. Once established, they cope well with summer drought, though they remain healthier in evenly moist soil. They respond very well to fertilization, producing larger flowers and stronger growth. They tolerate any exposure and a wide range of soil pH. Each spring before bud break, the shrub should be pruned back by about two-thirds, leaving a sturdy framework of several strong shoots. From these, new vigorous stems will grow, carrying large panicles—the plant flowers on new wood. Hardy to at least –34 °C (USDA zone 4), it is also suitable for outdoor containers.
Last update 17-10-2025
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- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
