Since you only need a little protection. These may be good for that purpose. They come in larger sizes also. You could add your leaves and unzip it when it gets too warm. They have umbrella ones but are not big enough for plants. If you have a few patio umbrellas you could make you own. You can also use 2x2's and make a frame the size you need and cover it with the frost protection cover. It's thicker than row cover. Let's the sun and rain in but keeps ice and snow off. Use stakes to secure to the ground. I also don't see a problem with hydrangea's being hardy for you. Except macro's. It usually does not kill the bud even it it freezes solid. Do you have them in a high wind area? In that case you may only need wind protection because it's the wind killing the buds and not the cold directly. Which a few stakes around the plants and cover with the frost cover should take care of. It wouldn't be necessary to cover the tops of the plants. Here is a link that might be useful: plant covers

Hello hello Ostrich! Still working out that bed eh? Can't believe it's that time of year again. Seems like yesterday that you started that bed. First and foremost, you should follow George's advice about waiting....even though you have some dead branches, she is capable of throwing off many new branches from the existing live wood (even if only the trunk was alive) and she might surprise you yet. Why throw away a season of plant/root establishment if you don't have to? If you're still not happy....For what it's worth, (not much), and based solely on photos, my #1 choice would be the Kyushu. (for all the reasons George mentioned and because I've seen HIS Kyushu pics) If the SM is a similar or "improved" version, I would not hesitate to go with it again either. If other Paniculatas do well in your yard, (and they certainly appear to) then you may have just gotten a dud and should not sour on the whole cultivar. Hopefully, other SM growers will chime in with their observations. Having said that, the (potentially) failed SM as well as the return policy gives you a chance to re-think (second guess?) the bed yet again and do a little more clear headed refining as opposed to the "oh my goodness, I just had to have it" planting that usually transpires when one runs into the latest, greatest hydrangea. Oh, the fun! Yes, you should choose and plan wisely, but you should LOVE whatever you choose. You're the one who has to look at it everyday. Have fun and welcome to a new hydrangea season!....yg ps....Where's the photo album George????? You had all winter to get it together! How can we start another season without those mouth watering photos to get us inspired??? lol

I only planted one, since "Sunflower" is supposed to be a self-fertile cultivar. However, I did add two pawpaw seedlings to my order from Reeseville Ridge Nursery out of Wisconsin this spring just to see how they'll do and because they were only a few dollars each. Right now it's about 1.5 ft tall, so it's added about 10" since it was planted. The first year it only added an inch or two, but last year took off pretty well. I'm hoping it adds as much if not more this year as the root system becomes really established.

Hey Bella, here is the link to everlasting: http://plantsnouveau.com/plant/everlasting-hydrangeas/ The hydrangea you mentioned looks gorgeous!