Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Hot Sauce™ Hardy Hydrangea is a compact, tidy hydrangea with full panicles that start cream and turn pink/red in late summer and fall. This little firecracker truly packs a floral punch, and it’s noted as the first of its kind to turn pink in the South.
Hot Sauce™ grows in zones 5–9 (cold hardy to -29°C / -20°F) and flowers from early summer to fall. It’s listed as heat tolerant and pollinator friendly, making it a strong option for warm-season performance and garden activity.
Hot Sauce™ Hardy Hydrangea Care
Plant Hot Sauce™ Hardy Hydrangea in full to part sun (3–6+ hours of direct sun per day). Choose a planting location that matches its sun needs to support strong growth and consistent flowering through the season.
Hot Sauce™ Hardy Hydrangea Spacing
Hot Sauce™ reaches 2–3 feet tall and wide at maturity. Space plants 3 feet apart to allow room for the shrub to fill out.
Hot Sauce Hardy Hydrangea Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9 |
| Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun (3–6+ hrs/day) |
| Mature Height: 2 - 3 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 2 - 3 Feet |
| Spacing: 3 Feet |
| Bloom Time: Early Summer to Fall |
| Flower Color(s): Cream, Pink, Red |
| Flower Description: Panicles start cream and turn pink/red in late summer and fall |
| Features: Heat Tolerant, Pollinator Friendly |
| Common Name: Hot Sauce Hardy Hydrangea |
| Botanical Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘COUSTAR02‘ USPP34546, CPBRAF |
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2026. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 30th |
| Zone 9 | March 30th |
| Zone 8 | April 6th |
| Zone 7 | April 13th |
| Zone 6b | April 20st |
| Zone 6a | April 27th |
| Zone 5b | May 4th |
| Zone 5a | May 11th |
| Zone 4 | May 18th |
| Zone 3 | May 25th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!