Fire Light® Hydrangea: The 2026 Flower Of The Year
Every year, Flower Magazine forms an expert panel of floral designers, interior designers, landscapers, and more to research beloved flowers on the market and choose their favorite. This year, the esteemed award goes to: Fire Light® panicle hydrangea! This panicle hydrangea from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs features giant cone-shaped flowers that start white and age to a bright pink, creating a dynamic display along hedges, borders, or mixed garden beds. But Fire Light® panicle hydrangea is more than just a pretty face: it is highly heat- and cold-tolerant, floriferous, and easy to grow. Here, we'll dive deeper into why you should consider growing this award-winning hydrangea.
“In the same way that light from a fire offers a variety of warm tones, the Fire Light Hydrangea runs the gamut from tender cream to an arresting pinkish red as it unfolds,” said editor-in-chief of FLOWER Magazine, Margot Shaw.
Why You Should Grow Fire Light® Panicle Hydrangea
Outstanding Flower Production
Fire Light® panicle hydrangea puts on quite a floriferous display, with large cone-shaped flowers reaching up to 10 inches tall, and some even taller! These flowers start blooming in early to mid-summer, beginning with crisp white and transitioning to pink as the summer progresses. Come fall, the flowers are still coming, and pink blooms start to transition to red.
Durable, Thrives In Warm & Cold Climates
Rain or snow, when this durable panicle hydrangea is planted in the right place and kept watered, it will reward you with a showstopping display that can last decades. Fire Light® is both heat- and cold-tolerant, making it a versatile landscape addition for cold Northern and warm Southern gardens. This panicle hydrangea is excellent for beginner gardeners looking to fill a space with bodacious blooms.
Lovely Cut Flower
The color-changing blooms from Fire Light® hydrangea don't just look good in the landscape: they also look amazing in cut flower arrangements! If appropriately dried, hydrangea cuttings can last for years indoors. For the best luck, wait until the blooms have begun to dry while still on the plant. Feel with your hands: if they feel papery and dry, they are ready to be cut and placed in an arrangement, no water required! If they are still soft in some spots, you can cut them; just be sure to cut at an angle and place them in a vase with water so the stems can take up water while they finish drying.
