I think @ ostrich and @ rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a) were planning to get one.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6277146/any-experience-with-little-hottie-hydrangeas

gardengal Pam might have something to say, she has grown it for many years and rates it highly.

I bought my first little but perfectly hot (yellow) plant early this spring, planted it out and it promptly showed its dislike of heat+sun. It dropped all of its existing foliage while growing new foliage. I immediately put a shade structure over it which stayed there until two weeks ago. As the summer solstice receded, shade from the house had stretched over Little Hottie, so I reckoned it was safe. It immediately started to take on red tones after being uncovered, but otherwise seems very healthy and happy, did not drop any more foliage and is very pretty.

So, in my Willamette Valley Oregon garden, it does not like heat combined with sun. I think it could take the heat just fine if it was in shade or maybe a bit if morning sun only.

It was bred and selected in Georgia.

gardengal Pam might have something to say, she has grown it for many years and rates it highly.

@artinnaturez8b, I think you might be mistaken as LH hydrangea is a relatively new introduction (within the last 5 years?) (and @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) grows almost exclusively her plants in containers and LH seems to big for such a placement).

I think I understand the misunderstanding :-)) I grow Little Honey hydrangea, not Little Hottie. So a bit of a name confusion. Little Honey is a compact oakleaf hydrangea with bright gold foliage, not a paniculata. Because most of my gardens have been more shade than sun, the only paniculata I have grown personally is the now pretty much disregarded Bombshell, although I have spec'd other paniculatas for clients.

I grow Little Honey hydrangea .

Clever pick up @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

😬 Oops. Well now y'all know about Little Honey Oakleaf in the heat!

thanks everyone for your advice.