Is that a white wall next to it? I wonder if it's getting too hot there.

It's beige vinyl siding. I took the picture in the bright morning sun and my cell phone camera isn't the greatest. Could it really be as simple as the reflection of light? I never even thought about that.

Is that an endless summer? It looks very similar to mine that I just got a few weeks ago!

I'd keep watering it for much longer than 3 weeks. Is the soil dry? The soil looks very dry in your picture. How often are you watering it now?

I cut the blooms off of mine to let it focus on growing roots and new leaves. Mine is doing really well now. Maybe try that?

Oh also, I think it is a Forever and Ever Hydrangea from what I remember. I'm not 100% on that though.

I water mine about every other day and it's doing great. We haven't had much rain the last few weeks though. From what I've read hydrangeas need to be watered regularly until they are established (anyone please correct me if I'm wrong though) so I wouldn't worry about that. Unless it's sitting in standing water of course.

I'd definitely cut off some of the dead leaves and the blooms and see if that helps. I wouldn't count it out until it's completely dead. It could still recover.

Looks like a greenhouse-grown specimen. The foliage that was on when you bought it is not accustomed to real outdoor conditions in your area, so some leaves will srhivel but will be replaced by new, more sun tolerant ones. The blooms (except the emerging one) are spent - cut them off. A plant that small will struggle to reach a large size regardless, and will probably not bloom again this hear after that last one dries up.

You will want to water regularly even after the plant is established, at least through the summer months when it may be hot and dry. 'hydrangea' is Greek for water vessel and these tend to be thirsty plants, period. Just avoid getting the water on the foliage - water at the root zone only.

And I have no idea who told you to water for 3 weeks only but it is NOT correct.....even in my mild and damp climate, the rule for any new planting is to water deeply as often as necessary but at least once a week through the first couple of growing seasons. Even drought tolerant plants - which hydrangeas are NOT - need that much time to establish and become self-sufficient.

I agree...definitely cutt off the blooms to allow it to spend its energy settling in. Continue to base water each day until it looks perkier. Good luck!

I would be concerned about its closeness to the foundation or siding. This will be a large enough shrub so that it soon will be against the siding as it currently looks like it's only about a foot away and the smallest hydrangeas get to be 3' across. If it has only been in the ground for a few weeks, I would dig it up with a large root ball and replant at least a foot further out. If it has been there longer, I'd wait until things start to cool down in September to replant.

I am farther north than you and have found that my bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) are happiest if they are in shade by the hottest part of the day, so mine are all planted where they are in shade by noon.