This site has lots of pictures of different Hydrangeas. You can try to look it up. Sorry, I don't know what it is. Its hard to tell from the picture. I'm assuming its some type of lacecap hydrangea. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Hydrangeas

Lynn, what a loving gesture. While your plant is still housebound, you can repot it, and set it outside on nice days to start getting it hardended off. If your soil is warm you can start to prepare the place you want to plant your hydrangea. I always use the Old Farmers Almanac as a guideline for when to plant and this year they said March 23 would be our last frost date. Personally, I think they may have missed it, but it's not the 23 yet. We shall see. I have planted out a lot of hydrangeas that came from florists and most did ok, and bloomed in the year following. One thing that I have found is that they seem to prefer very sandy soil. And the more compost you give them the better they fare. The one thing they don't seem able to tolerate, at least in my yard, is clay soil. I have a few patches of it and while other things don't seem to mind too much, those hydrangeas really don't like it. I guess they like to be able to wiggle their toes-and who doesn't? Anyway, I hope you are able to save your plant, in remembrance for your loved one. But in case this little plant just isn't strong enough to survive, you could also plant another hydrangea in his memory, and it too will serve as a reminder of what your FIL meant to you and your husband. ANd like I said in the beginning, I think it's a wonderful gesture on your part. Cheryl

Wow, lilyfinch! All the leaves on Limelight fell off? You mean it has no leaves now? That sounds like a moisture problem. Hydrangeas like consistently moist soil and maybe you got some episodes of moist and some of dry and the plant may have dried out. Too much water could also cause similar symptoms/problems. Can you confirm whether Limelight has some green leaves or not? To help you develop a watering program, use the finger method to determine when to water. Insert a finger to a depth of 4" at the same of the day for almost two weeks. See if it feels moist, wet or dry. If it feels dry or almost dry, add 1g of water to the soil (not the leaves) early in the morning. If it feels wet, try to determine why it is wet and take appropriate action as long periods of wet soil will cause root rot. If the soil feels moist, do thing. Every time that you water, make a note on a wall calendar. After 2 weeks, review how often you had to water. Then set your sprinkler or drip irrigation to water 1g on the same frequency (every 3 days/4 days/etc). If the temperatures change 10-15 degrees and stay there, use the finger method again. Keep the plant mulched with 3-4" through the drip line. Do not fertilize now; plants that are in stress and suffering from transplant shock should not be fertilized. Hydrangeas normally do not need much fertilizer. You can sometimes forget to fertilize on one year and, unless your soil is defficient on minerals, you would not notice it. Besides, your potting mix probably still has fertilizer pellets. Fertilize once in June if you live in the northern colder states. A 1/2 cup or 1cup of manure, compost or cottonseed meal is enough. Feedings at the these times will make sure that your plant goes dormant in time for winter. Do not cut it down either. The plants are too stressed. Monitor them for changes. New plants should not need pruning yet. Below is a link to a website with lots of hydrangea information. Go over it when you have some time, Luis Here is a link that might be useful: All about hydrangeas

Hmm, I see them "showing their feet" now (common in some paniculatas) but in this case, that is because the plants are young. In time, the stems should lengthen and bend down due to the weight of (new) blooms and due to the weight of tons of more stems on top of the existing stems. So eventually, more time/growth and the bloom's weight would help "cover their feet". Not in the winter, mind you, but I would expect this type of summer look if you do not prune: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/38843615508005409/