Hi Mike, Just a reminder, in the nursery industry plastic pots are classified as "hot" and clay pots as "cool". Foliage and plants in general coming from hot and humid climates seem to do very well in plastic. But in an already hot and humid climate, plants that originate in cool and/or Mediterranean climates prefer by far clay, since it allows for a much better breathing of the root system, prevents root rot and promotes blooming. If your hydrangeas have been doing relatively well in plastic, try clay and you'll see the difference. This is common practice among commercial growers who need to minimize health problems while promoting quick blooming for quick crop turnover. The longer they take to bloom, the least revenue they generate...Even in cool countries like France and Belgium clay pots is most often the choice for blooming potted plants(Hydrangeas, Azalea Indica, Bougainvilleas, etc...).

I'm in zone 5b/6, and my oakleafs perform beautifully. They are planted in a shady area on the south side of the house, so are protected from the winds from the north in the winter, though they do catch some wind from the west. It was not easy to get them established in this particular spot, and I had a fair amount of die-back the first two seasons, even though I protected them with burlap screens. I'm not sure if it was because of the not-so-great soil (which has improved quite a bit over the years) or because they are "tricky" to get established here (that's what I've heard, but not sure if that's actually true, though). In any case, I no longer protect them and don't have to water them as much, and they are gorgeous, just gorgeous! They suffer very little die-back now, but they are now mature/established. I have noticed that the two bushes that catch more sun out of the five in that grouping do produce more flowers and have better fall coloring - a beautiful rich red (the other three in less sun turn an "eh" deeper burgundy color) and are a little lusher in terms of foliage. Even if they never threw a flower, I would still grow them for the outstanding foliage effect. :0) I recently purchased a couple Pee Wee dwarf oakleafs, and I plan on protecting them over winter because they are right next to the driveway, and I'm afraid the snow throwing will crack the branches - mature oakleaf branches are rather brittle and can break easily, just bumping into a branch the wrong way sometimes causes a branch to snap, so dumping snow on them will more than likely wreck them (not because of me, but because DH pays no attention to much of anything let alone aiming the output of the blower away from the bushes....)

Congratulations! I have a couple of the Primulas from Pickering's. I think they're budded on multiflora. I stuck one in the ground (very alkaline soil & water here), planted it deep hoping it might make its own roots. That one is chlorotic--will probably pot it up. The second plant I put in a 20 gallon tub, with potting soil, in full sun. It's done very well. The leaf scent, to me, is excellent. On foggy mornings or cloudy days it definitely wafts. I can also smell it anytime by carefully running my hands along a leafy cane & whiffing. Almost a sandlewood scent. It's hard to get & very hard to propagate--you almost have to bud it. Gorgeous specimen Madgallica!

While hydrangeas in general are better in acid soils, according to author Scott Ogden they will grow in alkaline soil as long as it is well amended with compost and the bed is shaded. Our limey clays are mineral rich, but it takes humus to unlock that richness. Oakleaf hydrangea has a greater tolerance to limey soils than other species and hybrids. In Central Texas it is combined summer heat and humidity that causes failure even in many heat-tolerant plants.