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Hydrangea paniculata ‚LC NO11‘ LIVING SUGAR RUSH panicle hydrangea
Hydrangea
The premium Living Creations® series of panicle hydrangeas is bred by the Dutch family-owned company Kolster BV, based in the renowned horticultural town of Boskoop. Leading the development of individual varieties is Alex Schoemaker, who continues a six-generation family legacy in floristry and ornamental plant cultivation. Under his guidance, the company focuses on creating hydrangeas with long lifespans, sturdy stems, and exceptional cold resistance. Breeding began around 2010, and each variety undergoes more than a decade of testing before being released. As of 2025, the collection includes over 20 registered varieties with various flower colours and plant sizes, suitable for both in-ground planting and containers.
Several of these varieties have received prestigious awards from the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society (KVBC) — for instance, ‘Living Pinky Promise’ was awarded a gold medal in 2021, while ‘Living Sugar Rush’, ‘Living Pink & Rose’, and ‘Little Blossom’ earned silver. In 2024, the newcomer ‘Groundbreaker Blush’ joined the ranks of gold medalists. Thanks to its focused breeding and striking aesthetic and horticultural qualities, the Living Creations® series has established itself as one of the most notable European projects in the field of panicle hydrangeas.
LIVING SUGAR RUSH is a compact panicle hydrangea variety with a dense, symmetrical habit, growing to just under a meter in both height and width. From mid-summer through autumn, it produces medium-sized, conical flower heads composed of pure white sterile florets that retain their snowy colour throughout the season, with only a faint blush of pink appearing at its very end. This slight shift does nothing to diminish its elegant whiteness, which resembles sugar icing atop a cake. No wonder it was named Sugar Rush — once it begins to bloom, it feels like a sweet burst of energy, a fresh explosion of blossoms that lights up even the dullest corner of the garden. With its firm stems and compact growth, it maintains its shape even after rainfall and looks refined without needing any intervention.
The deciduous leaves are oval to ovate, healthy, and medium green, while the stems display a deep maroon hue that accentuates the shrub’s overall color impression. For the most impressive display of sturdy branches and generous flowers, prune the shrub hard each spring before budbreak (around March), cutting the previous year’s growth down to approximately 10 cm. It blooms on new wood. LIVING SUGAR RUSH is compact enough to mix beautifully among mid-to-tall perennials with similar preferences — think sunshine and moisture. It pairs elegantly with the cut foliage of bugbanes (Actaea), the vivid vertical accents of blue, rose or red delphiniums, or the airy touch of purple loosestrife (Lythrum). What will you pair it with?
Panicle hydrangeas grow best in full sun, though they can tolerate light partial shade. They are not particularly fussy about soil type but thrive in rich, well-drained conditions. Once established, they cope well with brief summer droughts, though consistent moisture helps keep them healthier. They respond well to fertilization, producing larger blooms and bushier plants. They adapt to any exposure and soil pH. Hardy down to –34 °C (USDA zone 4) and suitable for outdoor planters where they’ll simply need more frequent watering.
Last update 25-06-2025
