There are really no macs "better" than ES, in my opinion. Meaning if everything gets killed to the ground by freezes/winter, you're not going to get more than about 3-12 blooms on anything that's capable of blooming on new wood. But zone 7 has a much better shot than anyone in 6, usually.

I'd say yes about Tuff Stuff, as it has a much higher production rate of new canes than anything else I've seen, which can yield more blooms. Surprised it isn't more widely sold, but with its spreading habit I will definitely hack mine up into 4 sections and make new plants when I move to a bigger property!

If you want reliable, go for H. paniculata or H. arborescens. If you are determined to plant macrophyllas, you will be taking your chances on weather to some degree or else providing protection if there is a cold spell.

In my zone, all macs bloom well provided there is not a winter in which temps rise, stay warm enough to awaken the shrubs from their slumber and then crash down below freezing hard. You can get around this with winter protection. Since it does not happen often to me, I do not winter protect but I pay the price when winter causes problems. For that reason, I also have other hydrangea types, as a backup.

THE most reliable macs have been Madame Emile Mouillere and Sister Theresa.

In my area, ALL macs are reliable bloomers, regardless of cultivar!! Endless Summer does perfectively well here and can get to a very large size........I have a client that has two that are easily 6' across and perhaps 8' tall and covered in flowers. Nikko is still the standby here and you will consistently see very large ones in local gardens. In warmer climates (zone 7 and above), there shouldn't be too much concern about lack of flowering with any mac (provided proper fertilizing and pruning techniques are followed), although Luis's comments about later winter/early spring freezes should be seriously considered if that is an issue where you live.

FWIW, I have never winter protected any macrophylla, even when I lived in a zone at least one colder than my current. It simply does not get cold enough here in the Puget Sound area to be an issue.

Every Spring, there's at least one thread discussing which cultivars are budding & blooming reliably. One from this year - http://tinyurl.com/hnhjdxa 

After back-to-back Polar Vortex episodes in recent years that wiped out old wood bloom on macrophylla all the way down South to Atlanta, the ability of some macs to bloom on new growth as well as old zoomed to the top of the list for many of us.

Welcome to Gardenweb!

In Williamsburg I would say ES, Twist and Shout, Edgy Orbits , Madam Emile Moulliere, Bloomstruck and After Midnight.

Hokierusty, good to hear Bloomstruck is doing well for you. Picked up a 3-gallon in bud & bloom this season & liking the multicolors.

Winter hardy and nice small mops purplish in color here.

I've been trying to get into a few more Bloomstruck 3-gallons for less than $40 (to replace some container migratees) and I've had no luck finding any, that look healthy anyway...

I was too lazy to type this earlier, but here are my favorite reliable bloomers categorized by type. These are probably 90% of what I would consider to be reliable bloomers after killing freezes, at least based on what's been physically available at stores/nurseries.

Lacecaps: Tuff Stuff (serrata), ES Twist n Shout, F&E Summer Lace, Let's Dance Diva & Starlight. Cherry Explosion (red - McKay) is making its debut.

Peach / coral: Let's Dance Big Easy, Everlasting Coral, F&E Fantasia

Multi-color (not picotee): Pistachio, Everlasting Jade, Noblesse, Amethyst, Coral, Revolution

Pastels: Penny Mac, Everlasting Ocean

Brighter Pinks: Everlasting Opal, Lime Lovebird (new)

Deep Blues & Purples: Let's Dance Rhythmic Blue & Rave, Brestenburg & Mathilda Gutges (old cultivars)

Reds / Dark Pinks: Pistachio (multi, dwarf in Z6), Grateful Red (McKay), Fuchsia Glow

Blue/pink + bloom size: Endless Summer Original, Nantucket Blue, relatives....

Blue/pink mixed dwarf: Everlasting Revolution.

Whites: F&E White Out (dwarf), ES Blushing Bride (medium), Mme Mouillere (large) / only moderate success in Z6. Everlasting Pearl (honorable mention)

Double White: F&E Peace, Wedding Gown (half lacecap), Sumida no Hanabi (full lacecap)

Black Stem: Enchantress, Black Together / Licorice Lollipop

Red Stem: Lady in Red, ES Bloomstruck

Double, Single Colored: F&E Together, Izu no Hana (lacecap), Double Dare (dwarf lacecap)

Picotees: F&E Peppermint, Wedding Ring, Tivoli, Edgy Orbits (lacecap), Stargazer (double lacecap)

Found this Bloomstruck at the small garden center of Southern States, a local farm coop. Stopped by for potting soil just as the semi arrived & dallied to eyeball the delivery. Paniculata Fire Light came off first in 3-gallons & took 2 of those @ $25. Five Bloomstucks landed in a row on the gravel parking lot & an employee had to check the price on those. Came back apologizing for the higher price of $27.

These look like they were finished outdoors under shadecloth - green "outdoor" foliage different than greenhouse growth. Buds & blooms on every stem in a mix of blues, lavenders & lilacs. Picked the fullest specimen, which I'm guessing grew on the end of a row where it had room to spread its branches freely in three directions. All were very well grown, healthy & lush, already crowding their pots with mature canes. So the bargains are out there in unexpected places.

See Walmart's reduced their mailorder 3-gallons to $39. Haven't yet gone that route, but might have if Bloomstruck proved elusive. With the pick up at store feature, guess you could reject if not up to standards & be refunded on the spot?