George would be a great help here, especially if you were to add pictures of the two locations! In the area where you can have a large shrub, it sounds like you could plant some paniculatas (a lot of these grow large). However, they start with white blooms usually, which change in 2-4 weeks. Not sure if these would be ok; you said you do not like white... If you do not like whites then a mophead hardy to your location -perhaps a rebloomer- would fit the bill? There are also some arborescens that grow with pink blooms (sometimes called pink Annabelles). Have you seen those at the nurseries? You should verify that you like their pink color before buying as a few people do not like it. Purple-ish hydrangeas require soil that is just a little acidic and shrubs that will resist turning blue. It may be a hassle messing around with the soil pH so I am not sure if I would recommend that.

I just wrote a nice detailed and lenghty (of course!) post and it was lost. Trying again. YG is 100% correct. You have to have all shrubs on hands AND find out where the sprinkler line is before planting you anchor tree. I had so many disappointments when perfect thoroughly thought plan was ruined by some unexpected ledge or huge rock laying just under 2-3" of top soil. Yes, I was talking about this particular bed. As soon as you finish planting your deck's bed (next week, next month or next year) you'll realize that this(ES) bed look skimpy and need to be increased to watch the bed on another side of the stairs(deck's bed). That will involve major reshuffling and not necessary will be to the benefits of the plants' well being. The younger the shrubs the easier this job could be done. Again, as I said before, I'd rather see white blooming SM-tree surrounded/offsetted by the blue ESs than a white-white combo of Annabelle+SM. Matter of taste of course, since culturaly ES and Annabelle are fairly identical. Also, don't forget that by the time SM will be in full bloom your Annabelle will be or soon will be in a green stage and that may create somewhat clashing effect, I think. So, I'm suggesting to use 2-3 ES on a sides/around SM and to separate your pair of Annabelles and move the right one to the far right end of the railing where the entrance is. In this order: A-ES-SM-ES-A. There is a possibility that A will eventualy outgrow ES (or maybe not), but at least give a thought to this idea. Maybe just remove one of the A (or both) and plant it(them) in a bed currently occupied by ESs. Re: BBillow. '... isn't Blue Billow supposed to require much shade and not a drop of noon and afternoon sun at all? ' Absolutely unsubstantiated notion. If ES doing good there, BB will do good as well. One thing is for sure, I wouldn't be looking for place for BB in a deck's bed for one and simple reason, you don't want to waste 40-50 days in a height of the summer for its 'ugly duckling' period. Good luck, G

My formal DR/LR is painted BM green hydrangea. I had to paint that room first for various reasons. Now I want to develop a whole house palette and start painting other rooms. The BM site shows Melted Butter as a complementary color and a very dark porcini. I need a color for the entry way/stairway/hall, the family room/kitchen (all one long room), a powder room and multiple bedrooms. Melted butter seems too bland and I have no idea where to go from here. You can see the green hydrangea color from the hallway and from the family room/kitchen. Thinking a softer muted green for the family room/kitchen maybe?

Sounds like a nice project. I did not see any "special" claims to fame for this shrub so any rebloomer that produces 4' high mopheads of similar color should suffice. Especially if it is 4' tall, remontant, cheaper and very similar bloom-wise. I mention this because the specs for this hydrangea say it can get 5' high but you want 4'. If you get this one, keep an eye on its height or-and be prepared to prune on or before the end of June to keep it in check. If you get another rebloomer mophead, just ck its estimated height to be close to 4;. Post pictrues when the project has been completed; I would like to see them.