Doing a google search on remontant hydrangeas, brought me to this thread. I own 'Wedding Gown' & 'Pistachio' or 'Glam Rock' as its known across the pond. Both hydrangeas do not get huge figure about 3' X 3'. 'Wedding Gown' I have noticed, in our zone 7 winters w/o protection dies almost to the ground and emerges with new growth in spring. The plant blooms on new wood. I have not encountered 'die to the ground' with 'Pistachio'. Both are well behaved in a Northern exposure and a Western exposure in the shadow of a magnolia.

There you go.........!!

Bumping this up! I have a small collection of 5 hydrangea macrophylla. I'm going to post a link to the variety and explain the history/ location for each, along with an update. Winter was pretty mild this year, but had several sudden dips into cold temperatures. I'd say overall it was more like a zone 7 winter, but it was pretty shocking for plants as it would go from 70 degrees (Fahrenheit, obviously) to low-teens and single-digit temps very rapidly, and that happened several times. I think it stayed above 0 degrees all winter. I have alkaline, clay soil so blooms are pink. Everlasting Revolution (Hokomarevo): two planted, both in full sun (south exposure). Plants Nouveau link This is the second winter I've had them, both years they've die back to the crown but come back well. These are very tiny little hydrangea bushes and they definitely are dwarf and grow very slowly-- the "mature size" of 18 inches is probably at least another year away. The whole plant is miniature compared to my other hydrangeas. They both have broccoli. I intended to move the one that gets more sun this year as it didn't bloom last year, but I didn't get around to it-- and it appears to be doing better! From past experience, the blooms are beautiful, though small. They start pink and white and gain green streaks as the blooms age. Pistachio/ Horwack. Western exposure, pretty shady and fairly shielded. Pistachio link. I don't think it died back to the ground, but I forgot to check on it early when it would be easy to tell. Again, second winter in my yard, and growing well, but not very quickly. The blooms are already opening (whether that's because it's sheltered or because it's an earlier bloomer is uncertain), and are pea-green as they are always until they mature. Will develop an intense fuchsia color with green accents as the bloom matures, no blue center in my soil. It's starting to demonstrate the iron chlorosis coloring, on new leaves, it's interesting that it doesn't show that coloring until the blooms form and are opening (it's not on the first ~30 leaves). The plant continues to grow and bloom with no real maintenance on my part, and I like the look of the yellow leaves. Together (RIE05)- planted on the north side of the house, gets sun from early morning to about 10 am. Together link. I got this last summer as a mildewy plant on clearance. Whether because this is heartier, or because it's in the ideal position, this was my only hydrangea that did not die back at all, so it's the biggest. Has lots of broccoli. No experience with the flowers yet since it was an ugly duckling when I got it. Peppermint (RIE14). North side of the house, essentially no direct sun. Peppermint link. Also got this last year, but it handled the crowded box store conditions better and didn't have mildew. This died back to the crown overwinter but came back really well and is nearly as large as Together. Has fewer groups of broccoli than Together, but the clusters it has are HUGE. I am looking forward to the blooms, they are very impressive. Everlasting Revolution I can definitely confirm blooms on new and old wood. Peppermint and Horwack bloom on new wood, and Horwack also blooms on old wood (Peppermint and Together did not have a second flush of blooms last year, but they were recently transplanted). Together may or may not bloom on new wood, but it's definitely showing broccoli at the same time that the other plants that died back to the crown did. Together may be more cold-tolerant than the other hydrangeas I have. None of the plants are showing signs of downy mildew this year, and there's been a lot of rain. Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised with the new entries, and pleased that both Revolutions are gearing up to bloom this year! It matches your experience, though--all of my plants are in your "reliable" group.

I've had a LDBE for about 5 years and have moved it several times. It only gets about 2' tall per year and gets 1-2 blooms. Very susceptible to freeze damage. When it does bloom the color is very "peachy" which is attractive. The leaves also turn very light in the sun. I'm not really a fan of it though. I've done much better with LD Rhythmic Blue and Rave. My parents also have a Blue Jangles which is 3x3' this year with about 15 blooms and is doing very well. I'm considering donating LDBE to someone or another place, or moving it down the hill into the woods along a couple trails I made this year. If anyone else can chime in with some LDBE photos (depicting plant siting, etc) that would be helpful as well!