Hi
I just recently purchased a Pink Elf and it is doing really well. Perhaps you could consider one of those.
Pat

Thank you, Mulchwoman. Turns out we are operating on the same page--Pia and Pink Elf, it turns out, are the same plant. I guess the reason I can't find many dwarf choices is because there aren't any other than Pia.

Has your new plant bloomed yet? One concern I had is that some of the pictures show it as a kind of dingy pink--others show it a brighter medium pink. I don't really want "dingy."

I'm also wondering if it is bud hardy in Zone 6 where I live. Most of the descriptions online omit the zone info.

If you have any more info. on your new Pink Elf, I'd love to hear more.

Thanks,
Kate

My information may be incorrect, but I believe Domotoi is a smaller hydrangea. I was told it would only get about 3x3. I have two, but they're newly planted so I can't verify size. I wouldn't mind if mine got bigger, so I didn't double check.

A macrophylla that only reaches 3 x 3 is for the most part considered a dwarf as the non dwarf varieties mature in the area of 5 x 6 or so. Tovelit and Forever Pink are also in that dwarf catagory. I think Ami Pasquir is also a small one.....If I lived in zone 6 I would winter protect my macrophyllas to ensure blooms.....yg

Thanks for the suggestion, sarahmakes6--but hold on to your gardening hat--I just looked up Domotoi--it may grow 3' --or up to 5-6'!!! Good thing you don't mind a somewhat larger size. (grin)

Do wish there were some place we could go look at mature specimans before we buy our plants. My local nursery just labels them all "hydrangea"--period! Not much help, is it!

Kate

I actually hope my Domotoi do grow larger, as I was a bit disappointed when I learned they might be small.

I know what you mean about looking at mature plants... I've found that even a number of websites will only give you a close up of the flower. Sometimes that's what I want, but sometimes I really want to see the whole thing.

Yellowgirl--Thanks for the suggestions. Haven't had time yet to look up all the dwarfs you list, but Tovelit definitely has promise.

It is so helpful to have specific names to google--get much better results. I'll check the others out tomorrow when it gets too hot to work in the garden.

Kate

I have a number of eight year old Pia's bordering a brick path that have never gotten any larger than 3x3. The plant it self is not leggy and adds a nice formal structure to the garden bed. It is a relatively reliable bloomer for me and is loaded with blossoms after a hard fall and winter. I have acidic soil so the pink leans more towards the purple tones and looks great with brick. I also have three eight year old Domotoi the plants themselves have not gotten any larger than 3x3 and have a nice shiny leaf but my plants tend to be leggy (could be from the shade. They are not as reliable a bloomer for me - no signs yet of blossoms this year. The flower color is a pale blue similar to Nikko. There is also a Hydrangea grower on Nantucket who has 4" pot hydrangeas that are adorable but they may be smaller than you were looking for! Good luck

i jsut planted a dwarf oakleaf this year. supposed to be 4' x 4'. i am excited there was a smaller variety!

'domotoi' is at 4' high and wide here after 4 years. appears that it will get larger than this, based on the growth that it put on this summer.
some of the flowerheads on mine are doubles, some singles, in pastel shades of pink, blue and lavender.

I agree with yellowgirl, my Forever Pink is just 3 feet tall and has a very dark or intense pink flower. It's planted in front of my house under the eaves, no winter protection, no direct sunlight and very happy.

Alpengluhen (Glowing Embers) is still under 3x3 for me after being in a ground for 3 years.

Hi
Sorry I was so late in responding. My Pink Elf was blooming when I bought it. The blooms were really bright, almost a magenta pink. It's doing well and going strong.
Pat

Thanks again, everybody. Very helpful input--lots for me to think about and make a great choice for next spring.

If anyone else has more information, fire away--I love hearing about everyone's actual garden experience with these shorties. Never know how much to trust the catalog copy I usually have to resort to.

Kate

My four year old serrata Beni-gaku is still only about 3X3. It does like afternoon shade so you might check it out. Kiyousumi is a small hydrangea but the leaves are lighter green than most hydrangeas. Maiko is a beautiful serrata lacecap. Mine is in a container and a little floppy but in the container the floppiness is very becoming. Maiko gets about 3X3 and appreciates the afternoon shade in my zone 8.

I have several of the French hydrangeas "Pia". I love the beautiful small mounds of dark green leaves. Mine are about 3 ft. in diameter and about 14" tall at the highest point. The heads are nice and compact. When planted out, I spaced them about 2 feet apart and now there is approximately 5 in. between the mounds. They are mature, being about 7 years old. I have noticed that if I put any type of fertilizer on them, they do tend to want to be more of a purple color, which is a nice color....but I want pink hydrangeas.... doggone it!! (I will posting a question about that on this site later)

Let me help you here. I have studied Hydrangea macrophylla for quite some time now. Disregarding what others may think, Blue Billows can grow to the two by two range. Make sure you keep your pH level of your soil between 5.0-5.5 if u want to keep your billows blue. A soil pH any higher will turn the flowers pink. Do not fertilize your hydrangea, or give it any extra chemicals. Let it grow naturally, and it will be the size you are looking for. -------------Vanilla Sugga

Yeah, right, Blue Billow 2x2'? In your dreams!
Had to move it this spring third time for the tree years since it constantly outgrowing alloted space.
After splitting (yes, splitting) it into two shrubs, the largest one is still 4x3'.
Wanna picture?

I've got some very nice pictures of some very blue Blue Billows growing in soil that is about 7 on the pH scale.

Hay

I have heavy clay alkaline soil, so I'm guessing unless I do regular heavy amending, any hydrangea I plant will be pink, right?

I don't have a heavy preference, but I'm just checking from your experience..?

I was hoping to find a smaller hydrangea (around the 2-3 foot size) so I was considering "Forever Pink" and "Pia". I saw some conflicting size information on Forever Pink though (some say 3, some say 6?)

The spot i have is small and near the A/C where it gets more moisture than the rest of my yard, and mostly morning sun.

Nobody ever heard of PRUNING? You can keep them any size you want!!