What part of the northwest are you in? Some areas have enough moisture content in the air that hydrangeas do well in ful sun. I see them in full sun all over the place here in Longveiw and were my mom lives in Forks. You just have to really water them well the first to years until they get thier roots deep in the ground.

I can't speak to that variety, but near Chicago, I have Endless Summer in full sun. They get at least 10 hours of sun. Four years in, I watered them twice this summer.

The first few years were a pain, but I'm now happy that I put them where I did.

Many macs will take far more sun than people think.

Madeyna, I live just south of Portland, OR. I'm thinking of trying snow queen oakleaf hydrangea in the spot on the right of the backyard since I've read it likes more sun. I had a pee gee hydrangea Paniculata in Iowa that was great, but I'm not sure it would do as well in Oregon. It turned the most lovely shade of mauve in late summer. I really miss it. I am still tempted to get the plum passion hydrangea, but maybe in a smaller less expensive container and put it in a shadier spot.
I was thinking a quick fire, winky pink or vanilla strawberry might work on the left side if I give it enough water. I'm thinking I may need to add soil to the area since the top 8 or 10 inches is old pine needles and years of accumulated mulch.
John,
I think I do have an Endless Summer in more sun and if the heat makes it droop, I water it and it perks back up. It has been blooming well.

Karen, I was in your neck of the woods on monday during the heart wave. We were in Salem. Hydrangea plus is down near you . She was working on a display garden a few years ago so it might be worth a visit for you to pop over there. Keep in mind most hydrangeas you plant there are probly going to turn blue because of the acid soil. My glowing embers is turning a stunning dart purple under the same soil conditions and its in full sun. It took mondays 100 plus temps in full sun without missing a beat. Pinky winky took the sun monday just fine but pink diamond and guick fire drooped .Thier both in pots though so that was probly why. I watered them both that night and their leaves popped right back up.

Asperas definitiely need shade. I would not consider siting it in an area that receives that much midday sun. Some types of hydrangeas may tolerate it - asperas will not.

Here's the break down - paniculatas are fine in full sun. Lots of macs (and serratas) and most oakleafs will take a fair amount of sun provided sufficient irrigation is supplied. And asperas and arborescens are best protected from midday-late afternoon sun. And growing in containers is vastly different from growing inground so not sure I'd be comfortable with any comparisons on that front ;-))

I was also going to suggest one of the paniculatas--but it partly depends on when you want your hydrangeas to bloom. Macs and hydrangeas like Annabelle bloom the first half of the summer; paniculatas bloom the second half of the summer.

Myself, I have a couple Annabelles in part shade/part sun for the first half of the summer, and a couple paniculatas (Pinky Winky and Vanilla Strawberry) in full sun all day long for the second half of the summer.

Paniculatas are sun-lovers.

Only certain Macs will turn blue. None of the hydrangeas I mentioned in this post will turn blue. Annabelle is white and the paniculatas I mentioned are half and half pink/white.

Another good paniculata choice (white) is Limelight (big and tall) or the shorter version Little Lime (about 4-5 ft tall).

There are other good paniculatas--I'm a real fan of these beauties.

I like the white ones--in the hot mid-summer dusty garden, the white ones look so crisp and cool and clean. And frilly and beautiful!

Kate

Maydena- Thanks for the head sup on Hydrangea Plus. I noticed they have and open house in Sept and will definitely take a trip down there!
Gardengal- Thanks for the info concerning sun and hydrangeas. A Paniculata sounds like what I would like, since I would like to see some blooms mid to late summer in that area.
Kate- It's good to hear SS and PW hydrangeas do well for you in the sun. White blossoms are a favorite of mine too, but I was hoping to see them turn a much darker pink or rust as they aged. Perhaps the Pacific Northwest weather is too mild too see the color I saw in Iowa.