I did not care for the shade of pink that some of Annabelle's pink cousins had 2-3 years ago so I would suggest viewing the blooms before buying it. Afternoon shade is a must for best performance. I usually give them sun until lunch time (or earlier) here; just move it if sun until 2pm in the summer is too much.

More info on plain ole white incrediball:

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/invincibelle-and-incrediball-is-anyone-else-not-impressed-by-them-dsvw-vd~1990729?n=52[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/invincibelle-and-incrediball-is-anyone-else-not-impressed-by-them-dsvw-vd~1990729?n=52)

Thank you!! Interesting to read . I wish I could see the blooms in person , but theirs are all just leafing out and I wanted to fill the spot while I had the money to do so. Well I'll keep googling but maybe I'll take the chance . Someone has to go first , right ?

You bet. If you get some, please post of your experience! Are you planning to get just one or several for that spot you talk about?

I was thinking just one . It's 40$ for a 3 gallon ( I think that's the size ) so that's crazy but if it's a pretty as the photos I'll love it. It sounds crazy , but in Nashville there aren't that many great nurserys to buy from and if so they are so spread out . I have a toddler so I can't spend my day driving 45 min between garden centers like I used to. I used to make whole days ( and tanks of gas! ) of it .

Anyway, there is room for just one . I have some daylilies there and handful of clematis as well . :)

Check out this thread which has photos and comments on several of the pink H. arborescens:

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/4011877/what-is-your-favorite-pink-annabelle-hydrangea?n=18

There may be other threads as well. It is fairly pastel, based on the photos I've seen of it.

I might put in a H. paniculata there, something like Little Quickfire, which will be more sun tolerant. I have an Annabelle where it gets sun until 1 or 2 PM, but my sun is a lot less intense since I am much farther north, and it has a large rhododendron on the south side that shades part of it all day. You will need to keep a close eye on water if you plant it there or it may crisp up. It will droop if it isn't happy with the water it is getting, but will recover at night usually. I don't like the droopy look. Annabelles suckers relentlessly in my garden, and I assume but don't know that the the other arborescens will too. If that is true, you will need to dig up chunks of it annually or it will take over. H. paniculata doesn't sucker, but many cultivars can get large so be sure if you decide to go with H. paniculata that you choose one that will stay within your size limits.

I’m also on the lookout for a few Blush this yr...have a number of Incrediballs that do very well... they can get quite large ... this pictured one is near 7’

6/8 hrs morning sun

New intros are usually expensive. I recall ES being $40 (or more) when it first came out. Ouch. I waited several years for a price drop to $33 or 35.

Hi Lily! I have the Blush variety and was not crazy about the pale color. This year, I'm going to try the Invicibelle Spirit Annabelle Pink hydrangea. Here are some picks that I took last year at the Chicago Botanic Garden of Invicibelle Spirit Annabelle pink hydrangea. They were at 4 feet tall. It was a stunning display planted with pink flowers - Fairy roses, astilbe, lamium and lambs ear.

Hi Luis, in this area Hys seem to go up every yr ... last yr 3gals were going for $48+ tax.. this yr I would think $50+ tax...there are some sales late in season

Hi lily, we think alike! Did you get it? I’m also looking for a light pink hydrangea and this is what I’m thinking about.

Bella, do you have any pics of the blush? I’m looking for a light pink

Unfortunately, no, I don't. I remember that it was soft pink, but honestly, I planted it on the North side of our home and it didn't do much. I think it needed more sun, so this year, I'm moving it. It's similar to the Annabelles in that it's been my experience that they need some sun in order to produce their beautiful blooms.

Like all hydrangea, the color varies depending upon that age of the bloom. It is a darker pink when it is in bud and just opening. And the color lightens as it ages, but I would describe the peak mature color as a silver-pink.

The location and amount of sun you described should be fine.

Tim, thanks for posting these beautiful pics. Are your hydrangeas in shade or sun?

These plants get some filtered shade part of the day, but easily over 6 hours of full sun.

NHBabs,

You wrote: "H. paniculata doesn't sucker"

I actually have ones that produce suckers each year. My Little Quick Fire, Vanilla Strawberry, and Pink Winky all produce a couple of suckers each year a couple of feet away from the shrub. Nothing difficult to maintain, but I was a bit surprised at first.

PTW, Thanks for clarifying. Perhaps I should have said "in my garden" since I've not seen any of the H. paniculata sucker, either in my garden (4 cultivars) or others in this area.

Oh, how nice is that, P TW? Free hydrangeas! Have you transplanted them elsewhere or given them to others when they get larger? I have not noticed suckers either from panics over here either.

This is my Incrediball Blush in Zone5. It receives hot afternoon sun from 2:30 pm to 6 pm. Planted near garage wall. This was her first summer. I found some of the canes are floppier than others. As everyone said ; the buds are dark red and the blooms are lighter red? or pink?. The Inv Ruby color is much darker than the Blush (I have both)

FADI- beautiful!

Just wanted to post pics of my blush planted this spring. Its in shade almost all day. I also got one for my mom which is in more sun and it has double the number of canes/flower heads. I really like the colour, which contrasts well with the dark green foliage. Its about 18" tall - hoping it gets taller next year. No flop even after rain. Wilts fairly easily when its hot but this might be due to its age.