Hydrangea paniculata 'Rensam' FRAMBOISINE^®

Hydrangea paniculata is a hardy species of hydrangea that is native to East Asia – from the cold climate of Russian island Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands over the warmer climate of Japan and Korea to southern China. It is completely problem-free and it will grow almost everywhere. It was first described by the significant German botanist (and physician) Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold in his herbarium Synopsis Hydrangeae generis specierum Iaponicarum published in 1829. He lived in Japan for several years, where he studied the local flora and fauna, got married there and named one hydrangea after his wife Otakusa. The aforementioned herbarium was published after his expulsion from Japan for alleged high treason and pro-Russian espionage, because he undertook expeditions into nature in the north of the country according to detailed maps that were forbidden to be kept by the Japanese government. Thanks to his discovery, hydrangea became one of the most popular flowering shrubs, and still today new varieties with better colors and habit are being bred.

FRAMBOISINE^® is another beautiful panicle hydrangea variety developed by French breeder Jean Renault. He is renowned for some of the finest varieties such as VANILLE FRAISE^®, SUNDAE FRAISE^®, FRAISE MELBA^®, DIAMANTINO^®, and DIAMANT ROUGE^®. He crossbred FRAMBOISINE^® in 2004 and in 2019 it was introduced to the horticultural world at the prestigious novelty fair Plantarium in Boskoop, the Netherlands, where it won the Bronze Medal. Granted patents: PP32056 (USA – 2020) and EU 55644 (Europe – 2020).

FRAMBOISINE^® hydrangea is a more compact and smaller version of FRAISE MELBA^® when it comes to inflorescence size and colour, but exhibits denser branching and shorter growth. From about mid-July appear large panicles composed of sterile (showy) flowers that open pale lime to creamy white, but soon turn pink and as the summer nights get cooler, the pink deepens to bright magenta. They keep this shade until October before they start to get dry. They bloom atop sturdy, burgundy stems that don't bend even when the flowers are drenched in rain.

Stems are strong and upright, around one meter tall, and the shrub is compact and bushy. Leaves are oval to ovate, coarsely textured, green in summer and maroon in autumn. Plants require hard pruning in early spring (March) – cut back all last year’s growth to some 10 cm only and remove all thin or ill branches to encourage new and strong growth.

It will grow in almost any soil type, preferably humus-rich, moist soil that will not be too heavy or shallow. Once established it does not need extra watering like big-leaf hydrangeas. Full sun is best but it will grow in part shade, too. Feeding is much recommended to enhance flower size. Plants are hardy to at least -34 °C (USDA zone 4) and suitable for outdoor planters.

Last update 07-03-2023