LOD, also known as Eclipse, was expected to be part of the Endless Summer Series but like gle2011 said, reblooming
was spotty as soon as large production of the shrub ramped up. It was
never tied to the ES Series. For whatever reason, poor blooming seems to be an issue in variegated hydrangeas, not just LOD. Winter hardiness is weaker than for a non-variegated lacecap or mophead of H. macrophylla so think Zone 7. This may limit bloomage in Z6 or less. I too have gotten the variegated shrubs because the leaves are very nice. The bloomage was not skimpy here but they do not have large blooms and the pink ones they have just do not go well with the variegated leaves for some aesthetic reason. The blooms look better in blue. I think... The less sun that the leaves get, the better variegation they have. Or so they seemed to do for me. I kept them in 2-4 hrs of sun during the summer months. Mine did not revert to all green but maybe less sun might help. If the branch stays green you years running, I would probably cut off.

Thank you both! I love the lush foliage, flowers would just be a bonus. The pot I bought is leftover from last year, overwintered at the garden center. It had a solid green stem I cut off.

Now trying to decide whether to put in full sun, shade, or a mixture of both. Also, still trying to get an idea of its mature size.

From what I'm reading in previous threads, any blooms are very susceptible to a late freeze.

Thank you again for the help.

I am in a different zone than you are, but I've had one for a number of years that has never bloomed for me. The blooms were lovely when I bought it. I keep it in shade and any solid green branches get cut to the ground, so I have never lost the variegation. I like it even though it doesn't bloom so it gets to stay until it reverts to all green leaves.

Thanks jacquie. How big has it gotten? Thanks.

It gets about 4 feet tall but very few stems make it through winter here. After the new ones start growing in the spring I prune back the dead ones.

Thanks!

Am I understanding this correctly?

If you trim away the solid green branches in spring you can maintain the variegated leaves on the other branches?

thanks

Mine is in mostly shade and that may be helping to preserve the variegation, but I am hoping that by cutting off the stems that aren't variegated, I am helping to keep it variegated. I am in zone 5b, so mine has died to the ground each winter. Consequently, I have never seen a bloom on it. I keep it only for the variegation, and if it completely reverts, it will be shovel pruned.

Mine in zone 6a New England never bloomed. I got rid of it because it takes up a fair amount of real estate for a plant 1) generally doesn't bloom for most people 2) no berries (because it doesn't bloom 3) no fall color 4) is a bunch of sticks until late in spring 5) the leaves are pretty but the variatigation is modest. There are more rewarding plants with variegated leaves. I can think of a half dozen: daphne Carol Mackie; Kerria japonica variegata Picta; a number of variegated shrub dogwoods; with yellow or white edges; small dogwood trees such as wolf eyes, and of course a large number of perennials with variegated foliage. Why are you holding on to it?

You will never get your money's worth from the investment. I found giving away shrubs on Freecycle or Craig's list greatly eases my conscience. New gardeners are so appreciative of big well grown plants...so are experienced gardens come to think of it.

What does a bloom look like on a LOD?

That's if anyone has ever seen one..........

See here:

http://www.firsteditionsplants.com/lightoday-hydrangea

If you are planing to grow it below Zone 7, I would strongly suggest that you winter protect it to get Spring flowers.

Here is another variegated one called Mariesii Variegated (the webpage is slow to automatically change the pictures so, pls wait for more pics):

http://www.wildthingsgrow.com/hydrangea-mariesii-variegata.html