check out Early Evolution, Dharuma and an upcoming 2023 new one, Tiny Quick Fire. There is also a larger version Bobo coming out but it probably has the same slow start as regular Bobo.

Thanks, luis!

I just Google'd Early Evolution - interestingly, some website said that it's zone 3, some said it's zone 5.... I wonder what is correct please?

I am staying away from Bobo, whether it's large, small, medium etc.... it just wakes up way too late here! LOL!

Quick Fire is my absolute favouriate of all paniculatas. Since I have 3 already, I am hoping to get something different there....

Thanks again!

Ostrich, I gave up on 'Bobo' about three years on with them, had several and they just weren't vigorous and even after one of the better winters, they just kept pining away, out they went, I think they're much better suited to zone 5 instead! Our climate has been soooo erratic all over the place, seemingly more than ever! When I acquired 'QF' and 'LQF' upon their introduction, both had done fantastic for several years with very little dieback, though have suffered more severely of late.

I was eyeing 'Quick Fire Fab', had seen at Super Store, though specimens were not in the best of condition to warrant purchase.

Bobo is very frustrating. Five year bush and still looks semi sickly. if youdont want Little Lime, what about Little Lime Punch? I have been trying to get it local here but near impossible atm. Otherwise I would go with Quick Fire.

Thanks, Frozebudd and NWalton! I have 5 Bobos planted so if I change them all, it will be a bit costly.... I think that I will give them one more year to see how they work out and if they remain to be pathetic, then they will be replaced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NWalton, I have several QF already and I love them! They are my favourite paniculata and I wonder how Little Quick Fire and Quick Fire Fab would work out in our cold climate up north!

Little Lime Punch is intriguing too. I am curious also about these other ones that I see in the stores now, like Little Hottie and especially Flare Hydrangea - that one seems very interesting. I wonder if anyone knows much about Flare at all?

I tried 3 Bobos a few years back. i gave them 3 years to get their act together before i finally pitched them. I’m even in zone 6, yet every year it took so long for them to leaf out. When they did, the leaves stayed small and pale all season. The stems were so slow to thicken, the blooms flopped over yearly. I was not impressed with the cultivar.

Joe, thank you! I cannot believe that Bobo did not even do well for you in zone 6!!! Yikes....

I only tried Bobo once and shovel-pruned it after four years or so, it just never looked good for me, it was always scraggly and sickly looking. To be fair, though, I had it near a sprinkler head, so it was perhaps over-watered; it was in full sun. There have been some fantastic photos of Bobo on this forum, however, so I might try again.

I am in zone 6. I have five Bobos and they bloom like crazy for me. I love them. Do you use Hollytone to fertilize them in early spring? This is my first year to see how Little Lime Punch does. I also have Firelight Tidbit which I also love.

Bobo does fine here in MN, just not my favorite Too soon on a lot those new ones to know long term performance in various climates

Thank you - it is great to see that some people have had success with Bobo! I think that it likely is a bit fussy, so that if it is in the right location and climate, it will do well. Am I right with this theory?

Yes, chrysalids, I should try to fertilize them and see if that helps! pennlake, do your Bobo's bloom very well in MN? When you say it's not your favourite, why is that please?

This evening, I could not believe that I saw that Canadian Tire near me had its entire stock of outdoor plants at 50% off!!! I could not resist the temptation and bought 5 Little Quick Fire to replace these Bobo's! OK, I am not throwing them away, but I will relocate these Bobo's to a less conspicuous location - where they are now require something that will be more vigorous and reliable as it's a very visible spot. So LQF should do well there! Then I will move these Bobo's to somewhere that I can baby them for a couiple more years to see what happens to them there, without being too visible in the backyard. Wish me luck!

Blooms great in MN. Just something about the flowers I don't like and it's tendency to brown out here if late summer it too hot and dry. Nice compact mounded habit.

Check out these beautiful Bobos!!!

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6153326/my-annual-bobo-report#n=14

I am so envious of Rouge's Bobo's! How do they get to be so big and beautiful? I bet you it really needs just the right climate for it, and we do not have it in Alberta... sigh!

I was just about to replace the 5 Bobo's that I have with these Little Quick Fire's which I bought at a huge sale yesterday - so beautifiul and yet the price was amazing! Anyway, just as I was doing it, I noted that some of the Bobo's are now forming buds.... but as you see, it is just not vigorous in my yard, even after 2 years in the ground:

They are barely over one foot tall. Really, I am kind of tempted to give them some fertilizers and see what happens, or should I just replace them with the LQF now? Life is too short to just wait and wait, just to hope that they will do well, right????

Decisions, decisions.... what would you do?

Honestly, I'd replace them with LQF, it's a beauty, very hardy and EARLY flowering and just the right size of plant that seldom requires much pruning, and NO it does not sulk like 'Bobo' does!

I like what you're doing there with those sharp clean lines!! :)

FrozeBudd, thank you! You will be so proud of me as I dug up all 5 Bobo's today and replaced them with LQF!!! What an instant upgrade:

The whole bed is looking so much better already! THANK YOU! Now I should find some other space for the Bobo's....:-)

I've never planted Bobo, for the simple reason that i don't like the name! Does that make sense? LOL I have Little Quickfire but it hasn't done that well. Mother Nature has been completely off her meds the past couple of years and we've had awful springs, and LQF has suffered. So has Lava Rose. Fire and Ice, on the other hand (the one i've had the longest) is doing okay. Its buds froze last spring but it did come back and produce a few flowers.

Hydrangea paniculata Fire And Ice had flower buds in spring that froze??? Gosh, I did not think it was such a very early producer of flower buds.

Those are really nice LQF specimens that likely are to give you some blooms already this summer, I hope we enjoy some heat before too long here to really kick things into gear!

Marcia, you're not alone, I don't care for the 'Bobo' name and neither does it have what it takes to thrive in my northern climate. Another that has under performed is 'Fire Light', it has taken some good years to bulk up and finally when it has, this year several of the larger branches have died. I've read glorious reviews from folks in milder climates, but I found the blooms tend to get all splotted up and brown out more readily than others, apparently again doing much better for others.

Ostrich, in another thread you had enquired about 'Flare', I haven't grown that one, though I do have 'Moonrock', the attractive blooms have petals of great substance and plants are hardier and earlier flowering than 'Limelight'. While at Spruce Grove Home Depot, I chatted with an elderly lady with a large specimen 'Moonrock' in her hand, I said to her "That's a good variety!!", she enthusiastically replied "Oh, I know, I have an entire hedge of them and people are always asking me what they are!!"

Luis, we had a very warm March and April so everything came up early, but then very late heavy frosts. Most of the lilac buds froze too, and many of the lilies did as well. There were frosts in May here this year, but there was still a couple of feet of snow on the ground at the beginning of May so nothing came up early!

Oh! FrozeBudd, tell me more about MoonRock please!!! Is it as early flowering as QF? How big does it get and does it turn pink in the end?

I gather that Flare is like a smaller version of Moonrock, as they are all in the Lavalamp series of hydrangeas by Bloomin' Easy. I really am curious how they do in our crazy northern weather??? So please tell me more about your Moonrock! Thanks.

"Moonrock' is not of extra early flowering as is 'QF', though weeks ahead of 'Limelight' and hardier as well. As I previously mentioned, it has quite the amazing thick petal substance and a nice refreshing limey and white color that in warmer drier conditions later gives away to really nice warm rosy antique shades. Mine is yet just over 3 ft tall, though I guess will come to grow 4 to 6 ft.

Ostrich, here's a comparison of bloom development on some of my paniculatas, we certainly have had a cool and soggy growing season thus far! ...

'Little Lamb' is gearing up, always very reliable, I guess no longer much circulating in the nursery trade though.

'Moonrock', just a tad earlier, receives additional heat being along the south veranda, though is shaded for several hours during the afternoon, it has especially very good foliage!

'Fire Light', has been with me now a good five years, it's a bit of a slowpoke bloom and plants have always looked somewhat pale even with being fertilized, this one is situated in the most prime of locations with excellent soil and drainage, I'm eyeing it for possible replacement with Sambucus 'Sunrise Surprise'.

Thanks, FrozeBudd! This is such useful information that we don't get elsewhere, for those of use who live way up north and in such extreme climate!!! I am now having second thoughts about getting Firelight for my future flower bed... :-)

BTW, my Sambucus "Sunrise Surprise" continues to surprise me as it is growing so vigorously and so beautifully that it has to be my absolute new favourite plant now!!! :-) I wonder who else carries it in the Edmonton area? I saw several earlier in the season at Lowe's but now they are gone. I don't see them elsewhere though? Have you seen them anywhere around here at all?

Just a quick update for everyone - the Bobo hydrangeas that I relocated to a less conspicuous spot are actually doing quite well there! They are now full of buds and are looking good. I am curious as to how they will do long term there but I was impressed that I could move them so easily. Let's see how they turn out in the end! Thanks everyone!

Very pretty, chrysalids! Thanks!!! What zone are you in please?

ostrich, I am in zone 6a. Here is a photo of two more Bobos looking gorgeous.

I say not enough love for BOBOs!

Our very established BOBOs are doing well but not as floriferous as I have seen in previous years and not nearly as 'blossomy' as I see with @chrysalids...well done. (I am attributing the less flowers to this much drier summer).

Here are ours today:

@rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a), Bobos are fantastic! Your garden is beautiful. I love all the different colors.

A Bobo today:

@rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a): You're Bobo's are magazine worthy! You were the reason I bought this plant and now I'm working on getting more!

Annual UPDATE: July 28/23: (2 of our 4 remaining Bobos).

Gorgeous, @rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)!!!

But what do you mean, ”4 remaining Bobos”? Did you lose some?

2 very established Bobos died over this past winter. They were part of the border having the two you see above. I replaced them this past May with Little Hotties that have grown quiet well so far.

Any clues why the Bobos died? Quite rare but not impossible I guess.

.A relative who resides in chilly Saskatoon Saskatchewan (Hardiness zone of 3b) sent me a picture, taken today, of this singleton BOBO, planted outside of her condo complex.

(Sorry @luis_pr for taking so long to reply to your inquiry and to be honest I do not know why I lost them as they were very established plants.)

Sure is strange of the hit and miss of 'Bobo', I could not get them to establish despite several rather mild winters in a row and other varieties flourishing! Am surprised of the success in Saskatchewan!

Yes, this Bobo is confusing the heck out of me! Despite our weird spring and summer, and how most of my hydrangeas (even Quick Fire and Little Quick Fire were very late this year!) my Bobo's actually did fairly well this year! Here they are from this morning:

So they are not fully in bloom yet, but they are certainly not looking too bad at all! As you may remember, I moved my Bobo's from a conspicuous area to this area just to let them prove themselves, and guess what? They are somehow doing it this year :-)

It looks like they are here to stay for now... hee hee...