Well, I'm in 6b and what I said is based on my 4 years experience with all four of the Cityline. First obtained them in 2006 as a rooted cuttings in 4" pots. Replanted in 2G and overwintered all 4 in a coldframe. Spring 2007. Planted Berlin+Venice in ground and replanted Paris+Vienna in 3G. Took cuttings from Paris. Spring 2008 (after warm winter). Venice didn't make it at all (roots were alive, but all 5 canes died). Berlin's canes survived, but all buds were dead. Replanted Paris in 5G and planted last year's propagated plant in ground. Vienna still is in 3G. Spring 2009 (after long and cold winter). Berlin died almost to the ground. Paris (in ground) died to the ground, though plant was young to begin with and winter was too harsh. Both potted plants (Paris+Vienna) overwintered perfectly and blooming right now. IMO, of all four, only Paris and Vienna worth the trouble with overwintering. Neither Berlin nor Venice show anything distinct, just a regular pink mopheads. Paris is a compact 2-2.5' shrub with very bright raspberry red flowers and Vienna is a true dwarf (1.5x1.5') with pinkish-red (though not as bright as Paris) proportionaly smaller flowers. FWIW. Paris

Wow!! the Venice in the Spring Meadow photo is shown in blue BUT THAT PARIS!!! Wow!!! If that color is anywhere near true, it leaves Glowing Embers in the dust!! Can't wait to see your pics. Oh no...here I go again, another must have hydrangea. Like EGO, I'd have to keep it in a pot to achieve that color, but at that size, it sounds container perfect. I have zero self control when it comes to these plants...Geesh.....yg Just looked up "Paris" in Dirr's book. "mophead; deep pink to purple; massive flowers 8-9" wide, florets curly, a dried flower head looks like a bouquet all by itself, sturdy framework, 4 - 6 ' tall" Is this a different Paris than Cityline Paris? Like hydrangea names really need any more ambiguity!!

It's never too late to add data and experiences. Every hydrangea plant is different in one way or another, and there is generally a terrible lack of user experience and feedback with these plants! To make matters more confusing, hydrangeas are like cell phones - new ones come out when people aren't even done testing out the existing releases! Out of curiosity, what's your hardiness zone in MD? Parts like around Deep Creek go all the way down to 5a... Also word is from PW that Moonlight is going to be dropped entirely (an official rep posted that in THIS forum). They claim to favor Big Easy instead, which is a fine plant but nothing spectacular. I'd actually recommend Rhythmic Blue, but you'll only get deep colors (not like anyone's complaining). Blue Jangles and Rave are a bit newer and largely untested. As for the other older Cityline cousins Berlin, Venice, Vienna, etc. not a whole lot has been posted about them. I have Venice and it didn't do squat after '13 and '14 winters so it's been in a pot awaiting its ultimate fate. Just gave five "axes" (Charm/Compacta, Merritt's Supreme, Mariesii Variegata/Tricolor, Snow Storm (White King), and F&E Original (Early Sensation) to my neighbor the other day. :) I'm almost inclined to recommend people try Pink Shira in lieu of Moonlight. I'm not sure what my one neighbor has, but it's been covered in 4-5" pink blooms yearly for four straight years, so I have a distinct feeling it is Shira. I found myself one this year so we'll see how it does in the Great Outdoors!

All four of the Cityline series (Berlin, Venice, Paris and Vienna) are new kids on the block and only this year they were readily available to the general public. I'm affraid noone will be able to offer more than a two year worth of observations. I have all four of them and so far found Berlin to be the fastest grower of all. It doesn't look like it will be staying in 3' range if such rate of growth is not a fluke, but inherited genetics. IMO, it's another 'me too' another undistinct mophead. Pretty, but undistinct nevertheless. Contrary, both Vienna and Paris are definitely on a smaller scale and IMO will be a perfect subject for patio container plant or to be used in places where full-size 4-5 footers wouldn't fit. Paris,