They leaf out in March all the way down here so sometime in April/later makes sense for you. I have seen them leaf out as early as February in mild winters.

If they do not leaf out or produce new growth by the end of May, then they did not make it.

On its first Spring, times may be "off" from what would be normal times in your area... by a few weeks.

Here it is May. They leaf out about the time of most of my other shrubs.

My paniculatas are just starting to get buds here in 7a.

Paniculatas are way behind macs here. My macs had buds present all winter and are pretty much fully leafed out now but paniculatas are only just now starting to show signs of life. They wll not be in full leaf until sometime next month.

May ! in zone 5.

Thanks everyone. I'll check them next month. Wish me luck!

Yes, May in zone 5. And the way things are going this spring it might be late May.

tj

i think you're right! it's taking awhile for the plants to wake up in our neck of the woods. of course, the invasive stuff is sprouting already, i.e. ivy. I do hope my LQF made it.

So, I checked my LQF hydrangeas and they are alive. I just cut off some of the branches and I could see that they are green. Great news!