Gardengal48: Thanks for your reply! Darn, I was afraid of that. I was thinking of putting one in a fiberglass/cast stone planter, but I didn't want to risk it cracking an expensive pot from root pressure if it was the type to grow large. I guess for now, I'll just enjoy these for as long as possible and try pruning when they get too big.

Do you think I could get at least 2-3 years from them before having to replace it?

I grow a number of hydrangeas in containers, in glazed ceramic pots. They are happy for anywhere from 3-5 years before they need to be repotted, root pruned and the potting media replaced, perhaps a bit longer if the container is sufficiently large. Mine tend to be on the generous size, somewhere around 25-30 gallons. Root pressure should not be a significant factor......I've never had any plant - even trees - crack or break a ceramic pot. Resin or plastic pots may be a different issue.

Shop independent garden centers for something more than generic labeling. Stores where they aren't renting out shelf space that is serviced by supplier employees instead of their own staff, will feel obligated to find out more about any products they have received about which a body may have questions.

The Let's Dance Series of named cultivars includes some of the smallest hydrangea macrophyllas. If you do not find them locally, you can go to provenwinners.com

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)Thank you for the info! I usually opt for lighter weight pots, but the fake-stone looking ones seem to be more fragile. I've had a couple develop a bunch of cracks in the outer finish, though the interior seems to look ok. I'm just hoping they don't fully disintegrate! lol. I have a couple 10gallon-ish terracotta pots I can place them in for now. I know terracotta dries out faster, too, so I'll have to go pot-hunting before the 100+ degree weather hits : )

@EmbothriumThank you, that makes sense. I will most likely have to get the dwarf varieties online. My local independent garden center closed down a couple years back, and the next closest one only has the white variety.

@luis_pr Thank you for the tip! I took a look at the website, wow, they have a really big selection. Have you ordered there before? How'd it go?

After browsing around, I'm leaning towards either "Cityline Venice" or "Let's Dance Blue Jangles". They both appear to be small/compact. Can anyone recommend one over the other?

I prefer varieties that blooms twice if I have a choice. The Cityline Series blooms only once in Spring in warm areas. The Let's Dance Series is remontant and will bloom in Spring (from old wood) and again in the Summer/early Fall (from new wood). Give the plants shade starting around 10-11am and if the location is very windy, some wind protection (just so the winds do not dry out the soil as the roots are in the top 4"); then give them shade in the afternoon and in the evening during the hot summer months. They can take full sun only during the earliest part of Spring or in the Fall when temperatures are lower and the sunlight is reduced compared to what they will get in the summertime.

@luis_pr thank you for the tips & differentiating the two varieties! I’ll be going with the “blue jangles“!