I don't know whether to celebrate or groan......

Very cool, might work in a lot of situations, and something else to add to my list. Have I mentioned I am supposed to be cutting back.....?

:)

Dee

Just a collection of compact/dwarf panicle varieties. Their Dutch hybridizer, Alex Schoemaker, specifically selected varieties that promote horizontal branching rather than vertical growth so, they grow around only 12-16 inches tall but spread 24-32 inches wide; think Fire Light Tidbit-ish. There are three varieties with different colors but expect a lot of marketing hype. Also note that the word "groundcover" used in ads does not entail the same thing as it does here in the US. Thus, while they are compact/dwarf, they are not groundcovers as the word is interpreted in the US (not sure about Canada) or as a replacement for a true evergreen groundcovers. "The blooms last 100 days" but then other panicles also have blooms that last from June-ish to September-ish too. "Guaranteed to bloom", well, almost all panicles that bloom on new wood can use that marketing claim. Think of them as competition for Fire Light Tidbit (Tidbit is 2-3 feet high and 3 feet wide; USDA Zones 3-9) and others. As usual, expect high prices and late deliveries if ordering online as mail order companies do not like to send plant material in the middle of the summer. Not sure when they will be seen locally. CAUTION: Not clear why but their winter hardiness is rated only for USDA zones 5 through 8 (Zones 3 and 4 are NOT included)... unlike most other panicles that are winter hardy up to zone 3 so, basically, their USDA winter hardiness is similar to that of Big Leaf Hydrangeas although yes, the Groundbreakers do bloom only on new wood. Their crown sits practically on the soil surface so maybe that has something to do with it.

Well put. Seems like a lot of marketing spin. In addition, their ability to color to pink or red like the photos still might be TBD in North America, especially in hot summer climates.

Not clear why but their winter hardiness is rated only for USDA zones 5 through 8 (Zones 3 and 4 are NOT included)

It may just be because that they havent been fully 'tested' in cold weather conditions given they were developed in Europe? I saw similarly for 'Early Evolution' ie 'Polestar' in Europe and it was introduced as a zone 5 as I recall but now it is listed as hardy to -30C.

(I wont buy a hydrangea for in ground planting when the hardiness is listed as zone 5)

" It may just be because that they havent been fully 'tested' in cold weather conditions given they were developed in Europe?" Highly unlikely as the European trials were done a long time ago before they were released for sale there and they were now being separately tested here in the US, probably by Concept Plants for regional trial evaluations in various US climate zones (PNW, American Midwest, southeastern US). CP is a sister company related to Schoemaker and his Living Creations company in the Netherlands. Living Creations panicle hydrangeas are usually rated winter-hardy down to zone 3 in the US after trials are completed.

I gave the example of 'Polestar' as I had corresponded with the European distributor a few years back and they said at that time they werent completely sure of its low temperature hardiness (but they were confident that it could "do" an American zone 4).

That looks awesome

Hard to tell since Polestar is not for sale here in the US and originates from a different company other than CP/Living Creations. Or at least I tried to find it and could not get hits except in Europe. Is Polestar a new wood or old wood panicle hydrangea?

Is Polestar a new wood or old wood panicle hydrangea?

Don't ALL panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood/current season's growth? That's why you can cut them back to the ground - or close to it - each season before new growth begins.

tbh, panicle hydrangeas are not my forte. I much prefer macs and serratas. Did I miss something?

"Did I miss something?" No, not all. There are old wood only panicle hydrangeas that bloom on old wood, like Praecox. Not a big seller though but an old variety, hardy to zone 4. More common from wherever Praecox came from (Japan, I think).

"Early Evolution" is the North American name for the European "Polestar"

I considered getting "Fairytrail" a couple of years ago but at that time it was listed as a zone 6 as I recall which was too 'tender' for me.

What are your plans for it @UpperBayGardener (zone 7)?

(It is often advertised as a container plant but I see it is shown to be a substantial 4 foot by 4 foot)

The ONLY old wood flowering panicle hydrangea I could find reference to is Praecox. And that was from an AI synopsis to which I give very little credence (as with most things AI generated). The vast majority of hydrangea resources simply call it an early bloomer, about 6-8 weeks ahead of most cultivars. And a very uncommon selection as well.

I have stone walls so we will see if it will cascade over them, at all. Of course it's not going to be like a Jasminum nudiflorum in that regard.

" The ONLY old wood flowering panicle hydrangea I could find reference to is Praecox." I agree; me too. Since it came from Japan, I tried to find others but ran into a language barrier doing searches. But if there is one, there may be others. I ended looking for confirmation it bloomed on old wood and found the answer in Dr. Michael Dirr's Hydrangeas for American Gardens book, where he said it flowers on last season's growth and should not be pruned until after flowering. It was an interesting discovery.