All macrophyllas do well in shade - it's the type of setting they prefer. They do tend to flower a bit better however, if they get some direct sun, preferably in the morning.

Unless you plan to winter protect, one of the repeat bloomers (flowering on both old and new wood) would probably be best for your situation. Old growth buds may be killed in cold weather but the new growth should produce flowers.

Thank you!!!!!

Look at also 'Blue Bird', a Hydrangea serrata or mountain hydrangea-- its a lace cap variety that tolerates cold winters without too much die back.

As far as color goes, it actually depends on your soil pH. Even the varieties marketed as "blue" will turn pink if your soil is too alkaline. So basically you can choose any blue or pink, just focus on size and other characteristics that you like on the plant. And if the flowers are too pink, add aluminum to lower the soil pH. Just make sure it's not a white flowering variety. And remember you can't change the intensity of the color.

A little clarification regarding color change. Blues result from acid soil conditions because of the availability of aluminum in these types of soils. It is the availability of aluminum in the soil that creates the blue flowers. But some soils, acidic or not, are aluminum deficient so that's where aluminum sulfate, aka hydrangea bluing, comes into play. Aluminum on its own has no effect on soil pH - aluminum sulfate will have a slightly pH lowering effect but not significanlty so.

And this effect is only present with macrophyllas or their closely related cousins, serratas. And white flowered forms of these will not be color altered by soil pH or aluminum availability except for those which may produce colored eyes (like 'Mme. Emile Mouiliere') or colored fertile flowers (like many of the lacecaps). And some pink flowered macs are very color stable, in that the pink will be present regardless of soil pH or aluminum availability. Color intensity is a factor of sunlight - excessive sunlight washes out the flower color.

I would like to add to gardengal48's comments that the Hydrangea arborescens 'Bella Anna' is a pink flowering hydrangea in acid soils and it remains pink in color. It was bred to be pink in color.

That's interesting about 'Bella Anna' since so many of the blue cultivars will not be blue unless soil consitions are met

'Bella Anna' was bred to be a pink flowering hydrangea similar to 'Annabelle' which is white in color.

GG48 said "And this effect is only present with macrophyllas or their closely related cousins, serratas."

Bella Anna (like Annabelle) is Hydrangea arborescens, and so is not one of the hydrangeas with soil related color sensitivity.

Yup! H macrophylla and serrata are the two main kinds that are pH sensitive, and that's it. Asperas and involcuratas mint also be, but they're much less common. In addition to arborescens, paniculata and quercifolia are not pH sensitive. The trade off is you only get whites/greens aging to pinks.

And another reminder - Bella Anna has been killed as an ES product line and shouldn't be sought after. If you want a pink arborescens it will be Proven Winners' Invincibelle series, which now includes Spirit II, Blush, and Ruby. So you've got plenty of choices to try. :)

I think the OP was seeking a blue which is more tricky than getting a good pink. Are there any blues that are not macrophyllas or serratas?

"Are there any blues that are not macrophyllas or serratas?"

No. These are the only species that produce intensely blue flowers. Asperas (which won't be hardy for the OP) produce lacecap type flowers of a mauvey-blue but not the same pure blue-blue of something like Enziandom, Hamburg, Nikko or Blue Billow.

What a shame springwood gardens-- my 'Bella Anna' is quite happy where I have it and it does bloom pink for me. I guess so many new hydrangeas are in the pipeline, its hard to keep all of them around.

BA does take some patience, and mine is also now happy, but it took 4 years, and it's lankier and less resilient than regular old Annabelles by sheer nature, also being about 6-8" shorter with slightly smaller leaves and blooms. I'd love to try some newer Invincibelles, but I've not seen any being sold anywhere, *yet*.

All I've seen is the PW ads or brochures for 'Invincibelle', but I haven't actually looked in my local nursery here. BA is about 3 years in my soil and about 4' high and wide. First year in the ground it died to almost the ground but did bounce back with new growth and flowers after that. These past 2 years, no die back on the branches and has leafed out nicely.