Hi, I just planted one last month since I'm tired of my Annabelle competing for real estate I bought a bobo. As a matter of fact since they went 50% off I bought another one just yesterday and am wondering how it reacts in sun vs shade for people, or just any general comments on observing it in cooler climates. (Ha ha, we've had an amazingly hot and dry spring and summer). Annabelle is staying where she is for many reasons. I really love the large flowers and early blooming, long season of flower interest and nice proportion of dark green leaves to blooms. I could hardly remove Annabelle anyway. Frankly her root ball must be 5-6 feet in diameter. I've considered potting a young Annabelle into a large pot and planting her pot and all to keep the roots from taking over a flower bed. Anyone ever try that? What I'd like is a smaller spreading, possibly shorter Annabelle that doesn't droop to the ground. Now my Annabelle is in part shade, but my neighbour's is in full sun and they seem to behave very much the same regardless. I figured at least bobo would not be as tall or wide as the Annabelle, but I'm hoping it doesn't end up drooping or turn into some white ball with no visible green leaves. I'm also wondering if it will start to flower earlier in subsequent years when it has more growth like my Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus Blue Satin). How long have you had your bobo and do you have any comments?

I honestly don’t know how best to do that, though whatever you use should have similar texture to the soil there. If mounded too much you may find that soil washes out onto the sidewalk. If you decide to build it up in some way, be sure to lift the Bobos as well. Don’t mix whatever you use into the soil as soil texture changes can lead to issues with the way water moves through the soil, either puddling around the base of planting holes or staying perched where texture changes.

I say not enough love for BOBOs! Our very established BOBOs are doing well but not as floriferous as I have seen in previous years and not nearly as 'blossomy' as I see with @chrysalids...well done. (I am attributing the less flowers to this much drier summer). Here are ours today:

I don't grow Bobo, but Edwards here has an extensive hydrangea list up (their roses are out and hundreds of big clematis, locally grown, are on the floor right now; I just got my second Rouge Royale, which they'll hold in a special greenhouse until it's time to plant). Hydrangeas will be a little later. They say Bobo is good in part shade to sun, and is 2-4 feet tall at maturity. It's good for small gardens and compact. Bobo is hardy to zone 4 and blooms on new wood. Its blooms start pure white and age to a soft pink as the season progresses. This is pretty much what everyone has been saying, but just thought I'd post this because Edwards really knows its plants and grows many of them locally. Diane