As best as I understand it, if it blooms on "new wood" it should be ok. I put in an "Endless Summer" variety last fall and it dies to the ground, but has come back with vigor and has lots of buds on it. One piece of advice: whatever you get, make sure you water it very well the first year. It really drinks up the water

Good luck
TBT

Mine (mopheads) do fine in NoVA, so yours should be fine with no assistance in Richmond.

I wish I knew what variety mine were then I could tell you that you do not need to do anything to them. I am in the DC area.

About 1/4 of my stalks die over the winter, the others survive and sprout new growth. I am not sure if new stalks flower on mine or not. We have only been here ~2 years and I have been too afraid to cut them back and see if I get blooms or not on the new growth.

Thanks all. I'd love to have one in a pretty sunny spot, so I may try a peegee. Thanks for the responses.

Peegees are lovely while in bloom. The attached link is about pruning various types of hydrangeas (it seems to present the subject with clarity).

Here is a link that might be useful: Hydrangea pruning

Good thing I have not pruned them all back. I guess I have mopheads because mine are blue.

Still haven't gotten that peegee, but picked up and planted an Endless Summer in a bed in the front this weekend. I'm excited about it!