It's about time they did a new wood lacecap. I can only hope that these varieties end up as good products compared to the existing old wood & new wood varieties. How are they rated zone-wise per the catalog?

Hmm.....????? Given the "success" of ES, I am not holding my breath.....

Luis,
Zone-wise according to the catalogue they are pretty much generic: USDA 5, AHS 9. Size: 2-3 feet.

Ostrich,
Me too. I had a suspicion that a flood of ES-type hydrangeas should hit a market any time soon and that is the confirmation to it. Given the established network of SpringMeadow growers all over the country and PW marketing ability very soon we will be swamped by new wave of questions ala, 'Why my Moonlight/Starlight' is not blooming?' :-((

Oh no George...say it isn't so! I was already sick and tired of this forum having become the "Endless Summer" forum, and now this...(is there possibly an ES question that hasn't been asked and answered a thousand times over on this site?) We are going to need seperate forums. One for "Marketing Wonders of the 21st Century" and another for "Good Old Fashioned Hydrangeas Only". I know that sounds snobby but if you all think marketing hype doesn't work, just read about all these disappointed folks who where duped into buying a 'miracle hydrangea' and are 'winter protecting' ES without a clue that if you 'winter protect', you can grow pretty much ANY hydrangea!!! (which would be twice the beauty at half the price IMO) What do they say about 'one born every minute'??? I get a headache just thinking about it....yg

ps....I wish every ES would come with this disclaimer on the tag.... FOR USE ONLY IN ZONES 4 OR 5. RELIABLE BLOOMING IS NOT GUARANTEED, BUT THIS IS BETTER THAN NOTHING. PURCHASE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

LOL Yellowgirl - yep, it SHOULD come with that disclaimer!!

ES is a bust for me, so frankly I couldn't care less about these new introductions - it would be another round of disappointment for me, based on my own experience.

So I'll stick with my beloved Annabelles, which never, ever fail to disappoint, the gorgeous oakleafs, and hopefully in my next house I'll have a spot or two for the lovely PeeGees. :)

I like the idea of a "Marketing Wonders of the 21st Century" Forum. LOL An alternate title could be a "Rant" forum (sort of an anti-Favorites). I think I'll wait until there's reliable testing & info on these new Hydrangeas from someplace such as the Chicago Botanic Garden or the Morton Arboretum b4 I spend more $ on them.

To yellowgirl and others in zones 6-7 and higher, do I ever envy what you are able to grow! I agree that ES (and BB's) are a product of marketing wonders. However, for me, in zone 4, the plant itself is a wonderful addition to my garden. I actually don't have any ES, but I do have 6 BB's (Blushing Brides) and absolutely love them.

Here's my beef: even in zone 4, and I am in North Dakota, ES (or BB's) cannot take full sun. So, in addition to your suggestion for them listing, buy these only if you are in zone 4/5, could they please not say "full sun"? I know most of you are thinking it doesn't get hot enough here to matter, but it has been in the 90's and 100's here (with 75% + humidity) for over two weeks, with no end in sight (August is typically our hottest month - oh goodness). I have one of the BB's in a location where it gets mostly full sun from about 11-3 and the leaves get blackened, the edges get crispy (as do the edges of the blooms). The BB that lives about 4 feet away, but gets hardly any sun is much bigger, blooming better without any "crispiness". Therefore, if I, in ND, cannot have this plant in "full sun", how could someone anywhere else? Why do the distributers/growers insist on misrepresenting their plants this way?

But, all in all, I am grateful that I have a reblooming hydrangea that will weather my winters. So far, I have not had a problem with getting blooms on mine, so is it possible that this hydrangea actually grows (and blooms) better in the colder zones?

I LOVE ES and all the rebloomers! Here in NC they bloom reliably all summer long and even keep the dried blooms on thru the winter for some winter interest.I certainly wouldn't put them in full sun here, but the traditional morning sun afternoon light shade works for me. They do need to be kept watered when it is hot and they do wilt some if in the afternoon sun (but that is their protective mode)but perk right up when the sun comes off of them.
I think you might be asking too much? For every spot there is a suitable hydrangea. Thanks for the many different kinds abd choices!

I like my Blushing Bride so far. Especially since it is now blushing blue instead of pink. I had an ES, but it croaked during last Summer's drought. I just mowed over its dead skeleton a couple of days ago! LOL!

My Blushing Bride was blue last season & suits me just fine!!! Had her in large container for a while before setting her in a part-shade site in Sept. I protected her with a cage and dropped a burlap in side the cage since she has not had much time in the ground. Today she has tons of flower buds!

Since 2 ES were were move to a better sun exposure site in mid-Apr, both are sporting flower buds better than 2nd season. F&E is growing tightly with stronger canes but no signs of flower buds yet.

I do feel they all need some form of Winter protection (except for the H paniculatas) in my piece of soil - simply because I'm situated at the smack bottom of a longish, W facing cul-de-sac with both legs acting as funnels for the wicked winds & snow that wraps around to the back & cause quite a bit of havoc there. The trees are all bare with only 1 or 2 old Pines ... not enough to slow down those Alberta Clippers, Polar Expresses & Freight trains that come through our way each Winter without fail. So I pay for my small collection!!! LOL

I might wait to see if 'Let's Dance' shows up here ... hardier & 'new&old' bloomers too huh?! - I'll sink pots of shade annuals in the 3 spots I have cleared, in the mean time. I'm still waiting to find Blue Billow in town ... no such luck! Annabelle & another OH (dwarf) might just be less pain & they're in abundance here!

YG - I'm such a nut, so, even with this ...
"ps....I wish every ES would come with this disclaimer on the tag.... FOR USE ONLY IN ZONES 4 OR 5. RELIABLE BLOOMING IS NOT GUARANTEED, BUT THIS IS BETTER THAN NOTHING. PURCHASE AT YOUR OWN RISK."

... I might! LOL
D

I have just learned to take the 'full sun' or 'sun to parital shade' notation on the tags of all hydrangeas with a grain of salt. I put almost everything in what I call "bright shade" and have a decent amount of success. I only try miracle plants when I can get them for greatly reduced clearance prices.