what are these varieties that Lowes is selling from Kurt Weiss? I purchased a few that said Blue Danube, but if you look at the tag in the soil line is says Brestenburg... Also, I purchased a few that were labeled Bavaria, but the tag in the soil line said Mathilda Gutges... I sent an email to Kurt Weiss asking what these were since Lowes is notorious for mislabeling, but no response.. Sure would be nice if I actually had Brestenburg and Mathilda Gutges for such a cheap price, but who knows what anything is???

What ever it is it will survive if taken out of the pot and either planted in the garden or potted up to a larger pot with new soil. there is nothing left in the pot but roots. Al

Absolutely worth it! Mine is a beauty! I wanted so bad to take a cutting from it to propagate it, but I can't because there is literally not a stem that doesn't have a flower on it! When I bought it it was just green with only a few buds. Your plant just needs some TLC and fertilizer and it will be gorgeous! Here is a pic of mine from Lowes! Same Cultivar. Even came in the exact same pot. It is a reblooming macrophylla and the blooms last forever! These have been on the plant for weeks now! I had to put some bricks around it to keep the chickens from scratching out the mulch from around it though. lol =]

I assure you, your little hydrangea is a diamond in the rough. Keep it! =]

I think I may end up liking this one better than my Endless Summer... but shh don't tell her that! lol

Kurt Weiss seems to have little communication with the outside world. They just seem to grow hydrangeas and take wholesale orders and that's it!

The soil line tags are much more accurate, but not 100%. But they DO grow some goodies, including a few that aren't "supposed" to have made it to North America yet, as I theorize they've partnered with the Hydrangea Breeders Association (Netherlands), receiving plugs in crates from overseas to grow in their hydrangea fields.

MG and Brestenburg are good in pots, but they might get a little lost in the landscape. They don't disappoint though, and will bloom mostly purple in potting soil!

I bought the MG and Brestenburg in Ohio and I brought them down to South Carolina to plant in the ground. I hope they like it in zone 8 better than zone 6... Based on the descriptions I found on line, of the respective cultivars, they certainly look quite similar. I noticed they also had tags that said, Pink Sensation, Regula, Freudenstein, Blaumeister. There was also an incredible Red hydrangea that I have never seen a color like before. It was very much a true Red. I may have to pick up more next time I'm back in Ohio because hydrangeas seem to do MUCH better down there than up in Ohio (especially after the last two winters).

Thanks for the info, guys! Going to plant it over the weekend. I removed all brown leaves and the parts of the stems that were brown. Looks significantly better already!

MG and Brestenburg are indeed very similar. My two in pots look identical from a distance but the Brestenburg stems are a bit lankier in nature. Both very deeply colored with blues, dark pinks and purples. And yes, zone 8 is ideal outdoors for them. MG is left and Brestenburg is right:

If you do find a Freudenstein, they're supposed to be a good breed too. I either found that or Lemmonhoff, but I'm not sure which it is. Extremely deep pink with rigid flowers.

I did find a Pink Sensation last season last year. The stems aren't very strong and the blooms are limp and scorch easily. The leaves are also prone to diseases. But a few more years in a pot might yield better results. The color is straight bubblegum pink.

I got a red KW hydrangea last year. ID'd as Hot Red. It's one of those ones floating around Europe right now. It has bright green leaves (almost chartreuse) and dark red blooms that age to burgundy! Mine overwintered in the ground okay but only has one bloom this year. Expecting big things in years to come! Here it is in the upper left corner (next to Everlasting Amethyst)

If anyone spots any WHITE KW hydrangeas, do post pics! I'm looking to replace my F&E White Outs in pots because the blooms won't take any sun (not even an hour). HBA grows and has developed several whites that I wouldn't mind trying.

Here's the Hydrangea Breeders Assn link, to help you spot cultivars at Lowe's:

http://www.hydrangeabreeders.nl/produkten_en.htm

YouTube video of some Kurt Weiss selections:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjEydGTK1jI

I will say that KW has some beautiful hydrangeas and the price is really good at Lowes.. I am going back to Ohio this coming week and I will see if I can get some pics of the Regula which they are selling.. I loved Freudenstein. I may bet a few and take them back with me to Charleston, but I want to keep that one pink. The florets are incredibly large.

Regula is supposed to be straight white. If it is anything other than, it's probably been mis-ID'd. But Regula has been classically used as a white florist hydrangea for many years.