You don't need full sun for panicle hydrangea. I have a Little Lime in 60+% shade and it's fine.

And the farther south you go the more shade they appreciate. How much sun does she have? My memory (please correct me if I am wrong) is that you are in SC? Is she in the same area?

Check out some of the photos that nicholsworth55 has posted of her H. paniculata in zone 6 midwest that grow in dappled shade with very little sun.

Yea she is still in SC, but in columbia. So more center of the state although still hot!

I would say the step down is what is de riguer for hydrangeas: morning sun & afternoon shade; dappled sun; bright shade in that order. Or see if you can put shade cloth in the area.

I cannot put paniculatas in full sun or the leaves will sunscorch but I put Little Lime where the house gives it bright shade and only indirect sun. Paniculatas will perform better if they are in 1-3 hours of morning sun though.

In my visits, I have seen mopheads in the first three options and Annabelles in morning sun only in Columbia but no oakleafs or paniculatas there. And, oh, some gorgeous purple mopheads at the grocery stores!!! Hee hee hee.