Hello, bella rosa. I have seen positive, but very few, reviews for this one although no one was in Zone 5.

Hi Luis! Thanks for the info. I decided to purchase one online. It says that it's hardy to zone 4. I might just pot it up for now once I get it.

Ok, for lack of comments from zone5'ers, I would consider it "as bloom hardy" as any other zone 4 advertised ones like ES... at least for now... meaning take the claim of bloom reliability with a big grain of salt. Definitely post again with your experience in z5. I did see some reeeeeally nice bloom pics of it. They reminded me of Tuff Stuff.

That claim for a hardiness to zone 4 is for root hardiness, not flowering. Reading some of the literature from the developer indicates it will die back in winter in lower zones. They also state "These may not bloom on new wood", which sounds a bit ominous for a bigleaf hydrangea growing in a colder zone........

where should I plant it - Northside or Southside of my home? I figured I'll give it a shot.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I haven't received the plant yet, but will keep you posted on the outcome.

I just got my Cherry Explosion hydrangea in the mail and it's got 3 buds! I'm so excited to see the color. It's a good size plant. For now, it's in my greenhouse. I'll probably plant it on the NE side of the house as soon as the weather warms up.

Wow, quick delivery! That is one sign of good service. Post pictures when the blooms open.