Oh wow! I like the purple shades too. Reminds me when I visited an aunt in South Carolina. We drove to a nearby grocery store and they had the best looking bunch of purples ever. Quite unexpected. I considered bringing one home but I was flying one of those uncomfortable 50-person small jets and nixed the idea of bringing it as either cargo or with me in the main cabin. I sure wanted to get the soil pH reading and plant a few babies to approximately simulate that color. It would have been a royal pain but it would have been worth it and very entertaining. Ha! Enjoy.

I will have to stop by my Lowe's just to check it out too, as we get many of what-I-call their first early shipment of "generic" hydrangeas early on in March. They always appear to be part of the Merrit Supreme Series. Then sometime in April, we will then get more abundant and varied offerings.

Like Morz8 said, watch out for late visits from Mother Nature that may harm or kill the leaves. Plant it or put it outside in bright shade at first for a few weeks, then part shade; and bring it inside if it gets to freezing. Or just keep it inside if you are in a cold zone. Consider planting it or potting it outside two weeks after the last average date of late frost for your zone (your garden center or plant nursery can tell you if you do not know it). By then, chances of harming the leaves and chances of the leaves turning ugly will be much less. I would doubt late frosts would kill the plant if you are in a warm zone but, like I said, the leaves may be harmed and look nasty. I too once delayed planting one shrub I got in late December from, of all places, Kroger's.

Good luck with this new "baby", emrogers,
Luis

Yes the color is exceptional and these colors I doubt will ever be seen again. The growers have chemicals to create a bloom color that says"Take me home". Al

Just so you guys know I'm in Dallas, Tx zone 7/8. She's sitting on my porch since last night and will be for A little while until she can get accustomed to the weather etc.

I saw some Growing Embers last week at Lowes. I really want LA Dreamin and hope someone in DFW area will bring them this year.

If you see Lindsey Ann, post where... in case someone else is interested. The pics I have seen of similar ones are very nice.

I have always been curious as to how the hybridizers developed this type of mac that not only blooms in new/old wood but also easily blooms in various colors. Cool. You would think if planted in alkaline soil, it would be hard to get blues. Well, it turns out that is true so be aware. There should be a note in these types of products saying that, if the ground soil is very alkaline -like mine- (or if the soil is very acidic), one will get all pinks (or all blues). And only when the soil is in slightly alkaline or acidic does one get multiple colors. Unfortunately, they never say what soil pH the range should be for best performance. Probably a fraction above 7.0 or below 7 (say, 6.0 to 7.0?) but I am guessing. I asked Ball Ornamentals once but got no answer.

I tried GE several years ago and it performed poorly for me so I no longer have it. It was 2011 when we had that hugely warm & dry summer so maybe it was a case of planting on a super bad year. Kept it for 3 years though. Quite a disappointment as I thought it was a good one to choose for alkaline soils. Oh well.

Just where did you see GE, by the way? My Lowes in Hurst only had Merritt Supremes.

Arggghhhh.... my bad. You are right, Luis, it was MS that I saw at Lowes last week. I even noticed that the grower is in Mansfield. As for GE, Nicholson-Hardie in Dallas has it.

I really like the colors on this one. Purple is my favorite color after all, but I would never have the dedication to keep it purple. I can't even get hydrangeas to turn blue in my soil. I know it's about the acidity, but that's too much work. I sprinkle a little bit of the blue fertilizer stuff and hope it'll do something. It doesn't.

I hear you. One is supposed to amend the soil regularly and forever because once you stop, the soil reverts back to its old alkaline self. I agree it is too much work unless you can "contract" it out.

and then it's just expensive :P

Well I had the nephews in mind for that work. Hee hee hee.

Soil here is VERY acidic (from the volcano); nobody has anything but blue hydrangeas! Fortunately, they're my favorite.