I have mine in a location that gets only morning sunlight, and it is bushed out to about 18 inches high with one substantial bloom that's been on there for about two weeks or so. It leafed out pretty early, and appears to be happy. I bought a gallon pot, though, so there may be more root system there, perhaps? The bed that it's in did have some leaf mulch on it last winter - that may have helped it handle our lack of snow. I'm sure that unprotected newly planted ES's probably didn't appreciate the lack of snowcover in the absence of any other protection.

I'm sure that they will take several years to get established. I have a number of other shrubs that I put in 3 years ago that only bloomed well (or bloomed at all) for the first time this year. It takes a while for the root system to get established.

Mine has morning sun and is in a somewhat protected spot (Zn 4b/5a)--was slow to leaf out in spring and now is ~2+ feet tall w/lots of great leaves but NO buds/flowers yet. I too will probably give it another year or two and see if it improves.....Am a little disappointed since I was spoiled with all the blooms this three gallon ES put out last summer after it was planted.....we'll see.

I did mulch both of mine with leaves last winter....and they get enough water and sun....but what I am wonder is if they need to get a better root system....which of course is true......then why when we buy them in their pots from the nursery ...why are they full of beautiful blooms....why when they are planted into the ground they won't bloom for three years or so...is it the shock of being taken out of their pots and planted....or do they do something special at the nurseries that make all of them look so beautiful and full of blooms ..I know this also happened with the Nikko Blue....but I actually have had better luck with that than the ES..even though they are only hardy to zone 5..they were blooming wonderfull in my garden for about 5 years....then they just stopped blooming ....my sister had the same thing happen...everyone else that had them had limited success....now you hardley see a Nikko Blue anywhere....I just wonder if we are being fooled or something..most of these are very expensive for such a small bush when you get it...I know I paid $36.00 for both of my ES..and the warrenties are good for 1 year.....if most of them die in the 2nd. or third year...then the nurseries have made alot of money on alot of dead bushes.......my other sisters husband worked for Bachmans for 40 years til he retired....they got almost the first ES that got off the truck the year they came out....this is her third year with the ones she bought....and still has only gotten one bloom..one bloom for all of them....not apiece......and some of the bushes have died and had to be replaced.......MIchele >^,,^

All of mine (7 plants) were new last year. Half got covered with leaves and the other half got no sort of protection. All of them look great right now. I was hoping to get a few pictures today, but with the rain and a camera battery needing charging so it just didn't get done. It's too bad others aren't having good luck with them. I wish I had a whole yard full!

Here are a few pictures taken from two weeks ago. Do they look like keepers?
3 plant grouping

2nd view of 3 plants. The other 3 hydrangeas (Kaleidoscopes w/ no blooms) in the picture will either bloom or die this season. I would be more than happy to replace them with more ES..

Laura

I have 2 that gets a few hours of sun that I planted last year. They have lots of blooms but only about 18" high. Another one in a western exposure was huge last year only came back with one stem but it did bloom. And another one in a shady spot bushed to 12" but got only one bloom. I have a neighbor with 4 of them and one of those is about 2' high and wide and is very nice and in full bloom. Her others are like my first 2 on this post.

I decided I really didn't care that much for my ES so I dug it up and gave it to my mother on Fathers Day. (Dad got a new tool box he was coveting). I absolutely love the Annabels but the ES just didn't do anything for me.

My ES has made it through two winters...but has yet to bloom. The only folks hereabouts who have it blooming are those that bought large greenhouse specimens this year in May.

It is nice to see a few people are having luck getting ES to perform.
Jan

Wow--beautiful pics! I know one of the advantages of ES was that it was to bloom on new and old wood--mine were pruned back a little due to dog damage so maybe I lost the early blooms and will just get later blooms from the "new" wood? (Is that how it works?) I'm still trying to figure out why I have no blooms so far--fertilizer? More water? I thought it was a perfect spot and I have been good about watering.....Any thoughts ?

Mine bloom and I give it minimal fertilizer. I used organic fertilizer during spring and have given it Miracle Grow twice.

nice leaves, but that's about it, 3 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I am glad to see such beautiful blooms on Two Huskies plants..those are beautiful pictures.....and it seems like a few others are having success with them too...I am very patient and will wait and see what the next few years will do.....my Annabells are also doing great this year...along with a few Peegee's.....and now that I think of it it did take them a few years to get going too...>^,,^

Well I was the one that posted earlier and my ES is still not doing well. It is in a sheltered spot on the south side of our house, has good morning and late afternoon sun.

I just went out and measured it. It is 6" tall, all of the old wood died out, and it has one 4 1/2 " bloom.

I planted 2 'ES' late August 2004 in a location that gets about a half day of full sun. Due to the late planting time, I protected the plants by surrounding with chicken wire and filling with oak leaves. Both plants died back to the ground. Both are now 12"-18" high amd have been covered with lavender blooms since early June. They have earned a definite thumbs up from my wife and I.

I just got two of them this spring--they bloomed very nicely and then, low and behold, despite this absolutely miserable weather and minimal care on my part, they have re-budded and are blooming AGAIN!?! I was so tickled I went out and got two more and planted them this weekend.

I'm thinking I may have 'lucked' out and found the perfect spot for them...They get sun in the morning and are in shade until the late afternoon.

I'm impressed...now if they just make it through the winter I'll be over the moon!

I got my ES back in 2002, before it was released. I worked at a nursery so it was a freebie. I didn't get it planted so I had to overwinter it in my well pit. I planted it in '03, and it bloomed(grew to 12-18" tall). Died back that winter and grew to about 12" last year and never bloomed. This year it's 21/2'tall and still not blooming. Maybe next year.

I planted two last year one in the spring and on the NE corner of my house . It bloomed beautifully last summer and two leaves came up this spring and died. Boo Hoo The other I planted in the fall and on the North side of my house and low and behold it is doing great knock on wood about 18 inches and 5 large large blooms... Love it will see how it does next year..