Judging from the pictures I'm getting from across the pond, Vanilla Strawberry (sold in Europe as 'Vanille Fraise') should be a winner and will gain popularity as fast as Limelight did 4-5 years ago.

I will definitely buy a Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea! Can't find them in my area yet.

It should be available next spring.

Here is a link that might be useful: First Editions® Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea

Viburnum 'Nantucket' is the one you want if you have the room. In about 12 to 15 years it supposedly gets to about 12 feet tall, or more, and 7 to 8 feet wide. I have a rooted cutting which will remain in the 5 gallon pot, outside next summer, until it gains some respectable growth in a few years. It is reported to be hardy to zone 6 yet I suspect it may well do OK in our zone 5b (central Illinois) as some of its Viburnum cousins that were reported hardy to zone 6 have done very well here over the past dozen years in our location.

I am not as excited about the Vanilla Strawberry. My Limelights already have blooms at different stages on them. Maybe not as much as the Vanilla Strawberry states it does, but close enough. I am more exited about the Incredibele (pink blooming Annabele) & Incrediball with 12 inch white blooms. Along with the Proven Winners Bloomerang Lilac that hopefully does bloom all season!

I was just down at Greenleaf Nursery in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for their semi-annual open house, and got to see some of the new intro's for next year.

The Incredibelle hydrangea does look promising - nice pink tinge to the bloom. This is going to be very heavily promoted, as a portion of the sales proceeds will go for breast cancer research.

Didn't see Incrediball, the monster blooming arborescans type. I hope it really does hold up those blooms - wouldn't look too good in the mud after a big mid-west thunderstorm!

There are some cute truly dwarf butterfly bush I was impressed with - 'Blue Chip', I think it was.

Bloomerang lilacs are going to be both in short supply and very pricey next spring - IF I could get any, they would be in 8" pots and would retail for around 25 or 30 dollars. Think I'll hold off on these...

I got a sample plant of Twist and Shout hydrangea from my sales rep this year, this is a really pretty lacecap, supposed to re-bloom. I like it a lot! but we'll see just how well it does - you know, an awful lot of folks have not had all that spectacular success with Endless Summers...

That Vanilla paniculata is pretty in the pictures, but really - how many new panicle hydrangeas do you folks think you need? If my customers are willing to chase every little new red wagon of a plant introduction, I guess I'll sell them.

Those of us in the industry have seen a lot of new plants come along lately, and these new introductions are a good thing. Not all of them are really all that much better, or different, or actually suitable for where YOU are gardening. But, as I always tell my customers, part of the challenge and adventure of gardening is trying new plants and seeing how they do for you!

I think you mean Invincibelle Spirit...that is the one I am most looking forward too!

Looks like that Blue Chip Butterfly bush came out this spring? I don't remember seeing or hearing anything about it.

Another one to add to the list!

How about the Cityline and Blue Bunny Hydrangeas?

Here is a link that might be useful: Color Choice

I am really looking forward to Hydrangea arborescens Invincibelle Spirit. It supposedly has hot pink flowers fading to pale pink. I haven't heard mention of any greening of the blooms, that would be a terrific bonus.

weird.. an aside, please .. never thought of a Hydrangea as a shrub ...

i suppose its woody .. though in my zone.. they die back to snow cover ...

i always thought of it as a perennial ....

sooooo .... which is it... ???

and this isnt about posting in the wrong forum .... just curious .. about the correct answer

ken

ken,
whose chain you are trying to yank?

its a serious question.. no yanking ....

i have lived in z5 my whole life .... i am thinking i may have some presumptions based on such ....

perhaps whether or not it is a shrub is zonal ...

just an honest question ...

ken

The marophylla and arborenscen types "typically" die down to the ground in zone 5 (maybe 6?) or lower.

Paniculatas do not die down to the ground...at least all the ones I have don't.

Ken~Remember, shrubs ARE perennials, in that their lifespan is not complete in one year, ie they don't set seed and die in one growing season. That is, hopefully not!

Lots of woody shrubs experience tip dieback in zone 5, where they are marginally hardy. Weigela, some roses, sweetspire (Itea virginica) have all been like this for me, to varying degrees, depending on the winter weather.

Some are treated as "cutback shrubs" in zone 5: Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii), Hydrangea arborescens, and Caryopteris spp. all come to mind. These will "typically" die down to the ground. Some are treated as such in order to better enjoy their colorful foliage (Cotinus spp.) or colorful twigs (Cornus spp.), some willows (Salix spp.).

All will usually survive without any pruning, unless they experience crown rot, or excessive heaving of the roots. They just look better, and/or exhibit certain desirable characteristics, with selective pruning. HTH.

We have 2 Virginia Sweetspire (I. virginica) that are about 10 years old now and 3 feet high and maybe a good 8 to 10 feet across. If you protect them for the first few years from rabbits in the winter by wire fence and mulch them well with wood chips each fall and spring, then, after a few years, they are too large for the rabbits to bother and you just keep mulching out to keep the suckering habit to continue. Who knows how large the plants (suckering colony) will get? Fortunately, our son has his degree in ornamental horticulture and these have been planted in spaces with the long term in mind..........we have lived here for 41 years and don't intent to move.......until we are called Home.