In my Z8 in the South, white hydrangea blooms need morning sun and afternoon shade in order to perform their best. Others north of me have also had this issue and others with dappled sun are fine. The strong sun in the Summer makes the white blooms brown out early if allowed to get afternoon or evening shade. Paniculatas are the most sun tolerant but even those will require protection (shade) here from the sun or the leaves will suffer.

That's my problem with this area, mornings are full shade, then I get a 30min full sun mid morning, then afternoon is mainly mixed with a good hour of direct sun mid afternoon. It is definitely backwords of what would be a preferred location.

Since i get more afternoon sun than anything would it be ok to go with an oakleaf or some other sun loving variety, even though i really dont get much sun anyway its just that it is mid afternoon hot temp sun. I also saw the Blushing Bride mopehead, its a white mophead. I love the white blooms and have no white.. yet! Ha

Consider using a shade cloth when the perfect location does not have the perfect sunlight. I bought some more s/c a few weeks ago but decided to protect camellias instead and have to go shopping for more s/c now. Ha! ;o))

I like that idea, it would just block my entire view of the plants if I did. I am covered from the sun during mid day with trees, its that afternoon sun that comes in over the side of the house where our deck is, so the shade cloth would be in between us and the plants.

I really wanted a white hydrangeas, I don't want to try it and it not do well because I don't have any other spots that are any sunnier if it doesn't work! ha.. maybe someone has a variety that will work for the afternoon heat..

I have been searching non stop and think I found what I want.. Gatsbys' Moon Oakleaf.. Anyone have this and can give me an idea on how it may grow in my area with more afternoon sun than anything ? I was told that oakleafs can handle humidity and direct sunlight better than mopheads so with afternoon sun this should hold up right ?

H. paniculata varieties may work well in this spot.

Nwalton in Z6a was supposed to have ordered five last year. Not sure of anyone else in warm zones that has GM.

I give all oakleafs afternoon shade. Too much sun may brown out blooms early. Paniculatas also need afternoon shade in my Z8.

So I have no options? Haha

In the lighting conditions you described, you should be able to grow almost any white anything in Z8B. Use good soil and mulch and potentially companion plants, and, with no more than a few hours of direct sunlight ANY type of white hydrangea should do well for you. Water as needed, not every day or even every other day (unless you're growing a newly planted mac).

So is my thought process off here, if a limelight can take "full sun" then why would it not thrive with morning shade and mixed to short amount of full afternoon sun? A macro would wilt down I get, but if a limelight is able to take a full day of SC sun I would assume it would stay strong in having only afternoon sun and not wilt easily? It may not bloom light those in full sun, but shouldn't it do somewhat well ?

I would assume that Luis's area is drier than yours. I think that with only an hour of full afternoon sun plus a bit of morning and a bunch of mixed sun and shade in the afternoon that even in your zone paniculatas should be OK, though I can't be sure of that. Make sure they don't get too dry, though they also don't like wet feet. I might drive around some now and look for paniculata hydrangeas in your area and see what kind of exposure they have.

I wouldn't dismiss the oakleaf hydrangea either, if this is a preference. I don't care much for the doubled flowers of Gatsby's or Vaughn's Lily myself, preferring the more natural sterile/fertile more open flowerheads of the species and other cultivars. IME. oakleafs are extremely sun tolerant as well as being able to handle quite a lot of shade.

Babs, I like your idea about driving around. I just saw home depot start selling these limelight last week so I'm assuming they have to work in my area but yes I need to see where people are actually planting them. I get a lot of indirect light I am sure it will work, just hate buying something and it dying.

Gardengal, I don't necessarily love the Gatsby.. I actually can't find any oakleaf in any stores or nurseries around me ever. It would probably have to be purchased online and if I could find a variety that looks like the limelight or a mophead but on an oakleaf I may be interested. I just get nervous of the flowers wilting early from afternoon light. It's hard to tell from online pictures.

Where are you located? Georgia? Oakleafs are native to much of the southeast so I'd wonder why they were not offered in local nurseries or garden centers.

My oakleafs grow very happily in full sun.

SC. What kind do you have that enjoy sun ?

The only oakleaf I found was a 2gal Snowqueen for $40. . Home Depot is tempting me with the 2gal Limelight they have for $20 .. and I like the limelight better, if they work in that spot.. hmmmmm I may have to try it out

Just be aware that Limelights are big bushes, 8'x8', and can't be kept much smaller with pruning since they regrow within a season to full height.

bsmith--where in SC are you? Woodlanders Nursery is a wonderful resource located in Aiken--over toward the western side of the state. They are mail order so you would need to place your order online and then drive over to pick them up. They don't ship during the summer. They have 2 varieties of oakleaf hydrangea and many other wonderful plants. I highly recommend them.

Woodlanders link

There are two outlets of Cofer's Nursery in the Columbia area and several other independent nurseries in Charleston. I would expect all of these to have good selections of oakleafs.

Good luck!

Limelights are actually way bigger than 8x8' even. There's a house near me that has one that's 20' wide and 15' tall! I'd recommend anyone start with a Little Lime or something similar unless you plan on having it fill a massive amount of space!

Wow! I don't have that much room. I guess Snowqueen may be my choice.

Junco, I'm too far from any of those places. I know I'd have to travel out of the boonies if I want anything other than lowes snd home depot, I'll call them and see what they have and it may be worth it. My nurseries by truckloads at a time and that's it, hope it's something they ordered or they don't have it

Junco I just noticed that nursery has Oakleaf Harmony, anyone have any thoughts on this version, I haven't seen anyone talk about it and would like to see hiw it's different than SnowQueen

It has large blooms but the stems sometimes flop.

I don't like it :-)) It's got that same very doubled, heavy, almost completely sterile flower heads like Vaughn's Lily or Gatsby's Moon. In fact, the flower heads are so full and heavy, they hang down or need support. I much prefer the mix of sterile and fertile flowers in a normal looking flower head that Snow Queen, Snowflake, Ruby Slippers, Little Honey and most other cultivars offer.

Harmony:

garden web photos · More Info

Snow Queen:

garden web photos · More Info

Thanks yall, that's my decision.. No Harmony. I hate the drooping look and with all the humid here I can see it drooping even more.

Also- what's more shade tolerant, snowqueen or snowflake ?