Yes, you can consider the 4-g as the starter pot. Just remember to keep well watered if it does not rain. If the pot is still going to be in the lawn, winds will be an issue. Winds, every small winds, can be a problem but mostly during the hot summer months as the plant loses moisture faster thru the leaves that it can absorb thru the roots. Again, if the pot will be in the lawn area, sun exposure may be an issue if the pot's eventual area is in full sun... but Annabelle, its cousin, can handle full sun in the northern half of the country.

Where Luis is (and for much of the country) he is absolutely right. Where I am, it probably wouldn't survive winter because the soil provides insulation and thus a warmer, more even temperature in winter to plants in the ground vs. plants in pots.

You might want to add zone and location info to your profile so that it shows up in your posts. Go to Your Houzz in upper right of every page, click Edit Profile, and on the left side click advanced settings. Well down the advanced settings page is a blank labeled Climate Zone for Garden Forums along with a link to find your zone. If you add info on your state or the nearest large city you will get even better information since zone only relates to average coldest winter temperatures. Then return to the top of the page and click Done Editing.

Thanks so much for both of your responses! I am in Zone 7, and have another hydrangea in a pot that made it through last winter.

I will give it a go this year and see how the plant does. Hoping that I get some of those amazing blooms.

Thanks very much for the guidance on adding my zone to my profile!