I've had 2, one in morning sun/afternoon shade and the other in morning shade/afternoon sun. The one in afternoon shade did better so I moved the other one next to it. Don't misunderstand, the afternoon sun one didn't die - it just did better when in the shade during the hottest part of the day. I believe that after 3:00 is not considered the hottest part of the day. So I would say you should be ok. Good Luck!

It may be fine for you. Besides, you can always transplant it if you detect problems in mid-summer. You will not be the first one to have to move a hydrangeas to an alternate location and you will not be the last one either. Been there. Done that. I just cannot plant them in that kind of exposure down here. The summer sun is too strong down here and they would be exposed to 100+ degree sun for too long.

Thanks for the info! Since it's now almost April I'm thinking of the Annabelle again. :) Are they bad to droop?

That can be a tough question to answer because it depends on where you plant it and how much & how frequent droopings bother you. I planted my Annabelle where it is protected -somewhat- from rain and this reduced droopings. If you place yours where it can get a lot of rain then you would get more droopings. Maybe enough that would bother you; it does not bother me "that" much since it was not in a place right smack in front of the house. You also will have more droopings in the first few years until the plant's stems harden and can handle more weight.

Thanks, very helpful. I have a vanilla strawberry hydrangea that is out in the open (not protected from wind or rain) & only about 2 years old. So I'm having some of those issues.

I don't have Vanilla Strawberry, but I have two other H. paniculatas in full sun, Quick Fire and Pinky Winky. Neither of them droop in full day sun. My Annabelle, which gets sun from 9 to 1 and then is shaded by the house the rest of the day sometimes droops badly. So at least here, H. arborescens is far more sensitive to sun and moisture levels than H. paniculata.

Thanks, appreciate the feedback! I just planted an Incrediball about 2 wks. ago. It will get all day sun. I will keep it watered in hopes that it will adjust. I just couldn't resist trying it. I have Little Lime planted in all day sun, & they do great. But it's a paniculata, and as you said, not as sensitive to sun & moisture levels.