It's nowhere near being spent. Plenty of life left in it. Indeed some of the florets haven't fully opened yet. You could discretely tie it not a piece of green split cane or a handy stick which would hardly show. When you do finally deadhead it just cut above the pair of buds below the flower.

Oh it's baby one, give it some time, the older they get the stronger the canes get and the easier for them is to handle the flowers... I have done it a couple of times differently, I just cut right down to where the flower starts during the fall or early spring without any problems

I would just support the flower for now. Small twiggy branches under the blooms will discretely prop them up.

Thanks everyone I'll give it a bit of support. I'm a bit intimidated by hydrangeas but want to get to know them as I just adore them in the garden.

Is that an Annabelle-type of hydrangea, cefandl?

I also noticed that you planted it very close to the foundation. Incrediball will grow big, and will need more space. In the fall, I'd move it at least 2 feet away from the structure.

If the blossom got either rain or water from watering, then it get heavy and droops. As soon as they dry, they pop back up or you can tie it to a stick at the base. It is best to water a new hydrangea from the bottom if possible so the blossoms do not get wet and heavy. Growing hydrangeas in Portland should be pretty easy - just be patient and let them grow up. You can also shake the blossoms very gently and knock off some of the excess water and they might pop up. But depending on the variety, some hydrangeas just splay! That is what it is called when the blossoms droop. Splaying can be a feature rather than a bug (tech talk) if you move the plant so it can 'droop' over a wall or container. Sort of like this group of plants, the white ones drooping the most over the wall are Lady in Red. There are also Nikko Blue and about 5 others along the driveway. Lady in Red is about 3 years old from a cutting and is also trying to find some sun from under the vine maple above.

Phled, the camera angle really makes it look close, it's 5.5 feet away. Hoping that's enough.

Lovely, ophoenix!

luis_pr, it's the Incrediball. I love that on their website it says it's like the Annabelle except it doesn't flop over. hehe. Mine does! But just a baby. I bet once it grows up a bit, it will be better.

Thanks! 5.5 feet is plenty of space. I have a few closer than that and even one or two about 2 feet. Not a problem in my garden. My favorite question on this forum is what to plant under a hydrangea? Why, a smaller hydrangea of course! lol

If the Berberis is actually behind the Hydrangea rather than to the side it will get lost behind the bigger shrub. You might want to move that.

IME, ANY of the arborescens cultivars are likely to droop or hang their heads when in full blossom. The flowerheads are just too large and too heavy (especially if laden with rain or irrigation water) for the stems to support them well. More so on a young plant like yours but also very likely on a more mature shrub as well.

I don't care how much they advertise "sturdier" stems.......those upto 12" diameter flowerheads are just too big and weigh too much!! This is the primary reason I don't care for these types of hydrangeas.........IMO, they always look floppy and messy unless staked.

I plan on moving the daisies and the Berberis in the fall. I really just want the hydrangea in the space!