I see these promoted for northern climates. They are so pretty! Please let us know if you try them and they thrive.

What about American Beautyberry (if you like the look and color)? I think they are so pretty. There are both deciduous and evergreen species. I'm planting 3 along my whitewashed cedar fence (outer yard) as soon as they are big enough to be planted out. They're only about 10" tall at present, in 1½ gallon pots. https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A0LEV74givNYg1MAQkInnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEyYTlhYmkyBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjM4OTBfMQRzZWMDc2M-?p=American+Beautyberry+Images&fr=yhs-mozilla-001&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

Yes, maybe you should try it and let us know.

Perhaps you grow it already, but the Oakleaf hydrangea is one of the shrub type hydrangeas that I've read about doing well in the Texas heat and soils. I've always meant to try it. Maybe will look for it this year. Anybody on here grow it?

Oh, my, that Ruby Slippers is lovely, bostedo and Roselee. I think I've got just the spot for one of those. Thanks so much for mentioning it!

I am in Denton County and have tons of hydrangeas on my wooded 2 acres. I have about a dozen Oakleafs, some are close to 20 years old. They do great in partial shade but be very careful, they hate wet feet. I have 2 Little Limelights that are in their 3rd year. They are really slow to take off this year, in mostly full sun. i have about 30 Mopheads and lose a few every year. Most only get an hour or two of sun and for the most part do well with a lot of pampering. I hope this helps.

Thanks to all of you for your comments. I am still undecided as the Oakleaf would not like this moist sunny area I am told. Also, I tried growing them once in by back yard and they died after an unusually heavy rain that left that area moist for a long period of time. Girlnamedgale, so your Little Limes are doing okay in full sun? That is encouraging, and especially since I am in Denton county as well.

The Little Limelights have done fine until this year, I could tell you more when August gets here. As I said they were really slow getting started this year but seem to be picking up steam this week.

One of the regular participants on the Hydrangea forum - Luis - lives in Hurst and he grows all manner of hydrangeas. So yes, it can be done quite successfully, provided you site them well and provide sufficient irrigation.

Thank you for your comments. I am more concerned with the location of these hydrangeas because of the number of hours they will be exposed to our very hot summer temps. Being in a the same zone does not always relate to what can grow successfully. Just ask my longtime gardening friend in Seatac about growing okra. I do have other hydrangeas that I have grown successfully for years, but they have protection from trees during the heat of the day.

girlnamedgail, how many hours of direct sun do yours get???

The paniculatas - which both Limelight and Little Lime are - are the most sun and heat tolerant of the hydrangea species. In my climate, they can tolerate full day sun easily........in TX maybe not so much :-) 10-4 covers some of the most intense sun of the day, so not ideal. Can you rig up some temporary shade protection? Once the shrubs are well established, they will tolerate heat and sun better than they will as newly planted shrubs. Watering will also be critical.

Thanks for the input.

Carrie, mine get 8-10 hrs a day, right in the middle of a rose bed.

Thank you for this response........................if yours can take that much sun, mine should survive the six hours they will be getting. May just have to try these. Hated to plunk down that much money if they were doomed to failure. Thanks again.

You might want to have a beach umbrella handy to shade them for part of the day while they are getting acclimated.

Wishing the best with them!

Good idea, Ragna.....................think the one with holes caused from hail stones might work????

Hi Carrie, looks like this was three years ago. Did you end up planting the little lime hydrangeas? If so, curious how they did. I’m in Rockwall and considering trying them. Thanks!

I did not, went with other things....................sorry that I cannot help you. Lots of luck if you decide to try them.

Hi HU-326731307, we are in Frisco and planted two little limes last year. They get morning sun only and are doing great. They even survived our deep freeze (I had to cut them close to the ground) and are coming back bigger and better than last year.

I have two limelights that we’ve had for 3 years. I’m in Plano and they were in full sun all day. They have done so well. Tons of blooms and not burned at all. They are great for our hot Texas summers!

There are so many varieties of panicle hydrangea now, in addition to limelight and little lime. These are an unnamed variety from a grower here in east Texas - they only get about 6 hours of full sun, but they really responded to this cold winter. The flowers age kind of pinkish then dry nicely for arrangments.

We've also had good luck with the smooth hydrangeas (h. arborescens) such as Annabelle in similar condition, actually in the same bed - these might be 'Incrediball' - I have to wait till fall to climb in to see the tags. We did plant them on the east side of some taller shrubs (viburnum 'Opening Day' and 'Rosalinda' Indian hawthorn, which is recovering from last winter's freeze) to provide some afternoon relief from the hot sun.