Flowering shrubs that die back in winter might not make the best hedges. Have you considered putting the hydrangeas you like in planting circles your front yard visible from your bay window -- perhaps one of each kind -- but for a hedge, choosing a shrub that holds its leaves and looks good year round for beneath your window, perhaps Aucuba?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/63472675976961749/

Thank you! I will definitly not plant the big leafs as the hedge, im thinking of putting some in a planter and setting it in the garage in the winter.

I like the planting circle idea! My yard isnt too big, so i might have to implement that in another way. those Aucuba you suggested are magnificent

How big of a shrub are you looking for? Dwarf is a bit of a relative term and Little Lime is my yard is 4-5' tall, but there are some paniculatas that might stay a bit small. Little lime is much bigger than any of the macs will ever get in my climate. For what it's worth, I have BloomStruck hydrangea in similar conditions, full morning sun and afternoon shade from a honeylocust. It has bloomed every year without protection, but it does lose most of the old wood each year.

Macrophyllas are lovely foliage plants with minimal blooms in my zone 5 area (central Iowa). Underwhelming to those of us who plant them for the flowers. I moved mine to a more protected area and typically get 4-5 smallish blooms per plant instead of 1. My mother considers it a victory to get 1 bloom on hers. The paniculatas are loaded with flowers. A good nursery should have plenty of options in pink,white and lime.

I think you will find Aucuba is not hardy in zone 5.

In addition to Little Lime, which is a wonderful, dense shrub, please consider Little Quick Fire. It blooms earlier than Little Lime and is just as floriforous. It’s a favorite of mine!

I won't plant another macrophylla hydrangea. Not much luck with them here in my zone 5 area. I have incrediballs whic are blooming ok but the wind tends to decimate the foliage. I love my lime and little lime.

Incrediball 3rd year plant:

Little Lime 2nd year plant not blooming yet:

Nantucket Blue Macro 2nd year has one little bud and wilts every afternoon:

Limelight 2nd year:

Little Quickfire 2nd year:

I'm hoping they all start to really take of this year. I bought most of them as tiny qt size or less plants.

Thank you everyone! I decided on little limes, i also considered incrediballs, but they looked too sparse at my nursery.

also thank you for thr progress pictures of your hydrangeas!