I have so many hydrangeas and not one Oakleaf. I will keep an eye out for Alice.

Of my many panicles, only my Vanilla Strawberry hasn't been as cotton candy beautiful this year. It is my second favorite panicle after Firelight so this has been disappointing.

After my reservations about Puffer Fish, I am surprised that I like it as much as I do. The puffy sprigs at the end of the blooms are almost the size of a baseball so they stand out. However, only some blooms have the sprigs. It might change when they become more established. This is only the second year.

Thank you, rouge! I love that Haas Halo - it is so delicate and pretty, and yet zone 3 hardy!!! I got to find some here myself!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

Not that I needed one but I saw no "Haas Halos" at any garden centre this season. It is definitely not easy to source in my neck of the woods.

'Early Evolution' ... yet, so diminutive, but so cute!

As always, 'Invincibelle Spirit II' is a performer, planted last spring it's now to 4ft tall, photos from today.

@FrozeBudd_z3/4, great pic of your"Early Evolution".

So did you finally plant it in ground?

Given your more severe weather as compared to my location it will be interesting to see if it continues to survive your Alberta winters AND if so, how big it will get. I have too many of them ;) and the one that I had have 'permanently' in a pot is by far the largest....for sure 2.5 feet in height. (I removed it from the pot and planted it in the ground about a month ago).

(I could swear you and I are the only ones on Houzz that has EE!)

Rouge, yes, I planted 'Early Evolution' in the ground in August. I guess, it's been rated as zone 4, so not much of a stretch and will provide with a rose cone or something stuffed with leaves. It's an exceptional little plant, and indeed flowers early and carries on looking great to hard frost, thus earning prime real estate at the front of the house :)

I bought two Little Lime about 6 years ago and planted them in full sun. They are hardy here in zone 6 which you would expect and I think they seem average for water needs. They don't wilt like the mopheads. My one complaint is that they flop, badly. If I can't replace them, I am going to have to start giving them support. The flowers are large and atractive to bees and they age well. The other issue was I bought them at two different nureries and their size is different. One is noticeably larger in overall size and bloom size. I thought they might even out the lonnger I had them but they haven't.

I have "Annabelle" H. arborescens, "Limelight" H. paniculata in tree form, and a NOID oakleaf. They all do well.

I don't know why there are seemingly endless cultivars of hydrangea being introduced. This has been going on for a few years now, it's gotten to the point of ridiculousness IMO. I mean, how much of a difference is there from one hydrangea to the next outside of maybe one's a little pinker, or one is taller. Plant breeders need to move on to other shrubs.

I purchased two Early Evolution shrubs last season thanks to your posts about them, Rouge. I adore them!

I guess, it's been rated as zone 4,

I think this z4 rating is relatively recent as initially (when I got it early in 2022) it was rated as a z5. I even contact the grower in Europe and at that time they weren't completely sure about its hardiness.

I am so glad to hear this @chouchou_gw :)

I got a Summer Crush last year. It overwintered well outdoors in a 10 inch hanging basket, flowered profusely in spring and held onto the flowerheads throughout the season. It is supposed to be reblooming but poor thing got no sun and had no energy for additional growth/blooms. I would give it an upvote.