I suppose it is inevitable. Since paint companies started selecting "color of the year" that Flower Magazine started selecting the "Flower of the Year."
This year it happens to be the Panicle Hydrangea or Hydrangea paniculata.
Not my favorite hydrangea, but they do make lovely bouquets as shown in this photo from Flower Magazine.
Photo by David Hillegas
A late summer arrangement of Fire Light hydrangeas shows off the variety's range of colors.
In an article by Carrie Clay, she said: "Fire Light Hydrangea, a member of the beloved panicle hydrangea family known for its shapely, ice-cream-cone profile and its candy-box assortment of color palettes. The creamy white blooms burst forth in June, gradually unveiling a spectrum of dreamy pink shades before eventually fading into a deep burgundy in early September."
The panel of designers and floral experts gave their opinion of why they chose this flower and I liked this response: "This hydrangea has a very feminine appearance and an antique quality. It reminds me of a fine lace. I picture a beautiful arrangement in an entrance hall of a grand house—perhaps a country estate where it’s a wonderful welcome to guests.”
Robert Rufino | Tastemaker and Creative Consultant
Photo by David Hillegas
Though this flower can serve as a hedge or garden focal point, it also makes a perfect cut flower.
In their newsletter, Scott Shepard writes:
"Like so many things in life, a great flower can’t be rushed. The big flower clusters of panicle hydrangeas will tempt you to start cutting blossoms at first sight. The time to begin harvesting this family of hydrangeas is late spring into early summer. Properly selecting and cutting each panicle ensures success.
- Make sure the flower is fully developed before cutting. Avoid unopened buds at the tip. These buds will often go soft if you cut them before they fully develop.
- You want the flowers to be almost papery to touch before collecting. If they’re too soft, they may not be ready yet.
- Look for flower heads without any damage or discolored petals.
- Use a sharp knife or pruners. A good clean cut will help the stems drink water more efficiently.
- Lastly, I like to make sure the stems are placed into deep, cool, clean water to help prevent wilting. Hydrangea’s name reflects its love of water. The name comes from the Greek words for water ‘hydros’ and jar ‘angos.’"
" I can share a few arranging tips to set you up for success.
- The panicle hydrangea, due to its size, naturally makes a great focal flower. The large blooms are stunning enough to stand alone as a design or mix with other seasonal flowers.
- Depending on the season, the color of this flower can transition from creamy white to varying shades of antique pinks—or even a vivid red in the case of ‘Fire Light’—to greens and even to more rustic fall tones. They offer a wide variety of palettes and seasons to enjoy.
- Sometimes the flowers can be gigantic. Because of the size of the flowers and the weight that comes with them, you may need to provide additional support. Items like tape, wire, and stakes are great tools to have.
- Another trick for all hydrangeas is the use of Alum powder. It’s an older product used for pickling, cooking, dental care, and a wide variety of personal hygiene needs. But it’s also a great flower floral preservative. Dab a little on the end of a freshly cut stem and put a tablespoon in the vase of water. This will help the flowers last a long time."
- Select flowers that are completely papery to the touch. You can feel that there isn’t much moisture in the petals.
- Remove all extra leaves and any damaged flowers from the stem.
- Hanging is a very popular method of drying. Hang stems upside down in a cool dark space. The darkness helps preserve the color, and the coolness helps the flowers maintain their shape.
- I’ve also dried flowers using a vase. Place the stems like an arrangement in a vase with approximately an inch of water in it. As the stems drink the most of the water and the rest evaporates, the bloom gradually dries. You have a dried arrangement in just a short period of time.
- Sometimes people will use a floral sealant to help the flowers last longer, but honestly, I like my dried blooms natural like they were supposed to be."
