Someone had mentioned Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea that might be worth trying.

The Incredibelle hydrangea does look promising - nice pink tinge to the bloom. This is going to be very heavily promoted, as a portion of the sales proceeds will go for breast cancer research.

Didn't see Incrediball, the monster blooming arborescans type. I hope it really does hold up those blooms - wouldn't look too good in the mud after a big mid-west thunderstorm!

There are some cute truly dwarf butterfly bush I was impressed with - 'Blue Chip', I think it was.

Bloomerang lilacs are going to be both in short supply and very pricey next spring - IF I could get any, they would be in 8" pots and would retail for around 25 or 30 dollars. Think I'll hold off on these...

I got a sample plant of Twist and Shout hydrangea from my sales rep this year, this is a really pretty lacecap, supposed to re-bloom. I like it a lot! but we'll see just how well it does - you know, an awful lot of folks have not had all that spectacular success with Endless Summers...

That Vanilla paniculata is pretty in the pictures, but really - how many new panicle hydrangeas do you folks think you need? If my customers are willing to chase every little new red wagon of a plant introduction, I guess I'll sell them.

Those of us in the industry have seen a lot of new plants come along lately, and these new introductions are a good thing. Not all of them are really all that much better, or different, or actually suitable for where YOU are gardening. But, as I always tell my customers, part of the challenge and adventure of gardening is trying new plants and seeing how they do for you!

Another one to add to the list!

How about the Cityline and Blue Bunny Hydrangeas?

i suppose its woody .. though in my zone.. they die back to snow cover ...

i always thought of it as a perennial ....

sooooo .... which is it... ???

and this isnt about posting in the wrong forum .... just curious .. about the correct answer

ken

i have lived in z5 my whole life .... i am thinking i may have some presumptions based on such ....

perhaps whether or not it is a shrub is zonal ...

just an honest question ...

ken

Paniculatas do not die down to the ground...at least all the ones I have don't.

Lots of woody shrubs experience tip dieback in zone 5, where they are marginally hardy. Weigela, some roses, sweetspire (Itea virginica) have all been like this for me, to varying degrees, depending on the winter weather.

Some are treated as "cutback shrubs" in zone 5: Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii), Hydrangea arborescens, and Caryopteris spp. all come to mind. These will "typically" die down to the ground. Some are treated as such in order to better enjoy their colorful foliage (Cotinus spp.) or colorful twigs (Cornus spp.), some willows (Salix spp.).

All will usually survive without any pruning, unless they experience crown rot, or excessive heaving of the roots. They just look better, and/or exhibit certain desirable characteristics, with selective pruning. HTH.