If last season's sales at my nursery are any indication, one of the "hottest" new paniculatas on the market, so wouldn't be surprised to find a bunch of them all over the area :-)

Was there a specific question you had about the plant?

Thank you for responding. I received one over the weekend for my birthday and I had never heard of the "vanilla strawberry". It says in the tag to grow it in full sun, but I wonder if morning shade with afternoon sun would be OK. My other hydrangeas are in morning shade and filtered afternoon sun and have been thriving wonderfully for twenty years!

That sounds fine. Paniculatas tend to be a lot more sun tolerant than bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) but still appreciate regular watering in summer. Also a lot hardier and less fussy with regards to pruning requirements. Very popular plants :-)

Thank you again! I appreciate your advice very much. I'd better start digging a prominent spot for it!

Farmhouse yards in the region have older H. paniculata growing in the open, with no sun or wind protection for acres around them.

Thank you, bboy, it sounds better all the time!

Today I saw this one at a local outlet. Making big-leaf hydrangea small-leaf hydrangea looks like yet another instance where reducing the size of its parts makes a plant more appealing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hydrangea macrophylla 'Pia'

I've had a couple 'Pia's for about four years. They are in the ground, are under two feet tall and wide (deadheading only pruning) and as of last year, still bloomed pink. I highly recommend them.

Unfortunately, 40 dollars for the 2 gal. pot.

Unfortunately, 40 dollars for the 2 gal. pot.

Whoa -- you are shopping at the wrong place!!

And, of course the same price for the 3 gallon Bailey hydrangeas ('Bailmer' etc.) in the same display.

The same price the Bailey hydrangeas are at multiple independent garden centers in the area. To beat that you have to get them at Home Depot, maybe one or two others - and maybe settle for them having only 'Bailmer' (not the best of the bunch) - and often with damage from having not been kept watered on time.

Or find them on sale.

I bought my 'Pia's at Fred Meyer for less than ten bucks in a gallon pot on sale....

I do buy most of my plants at independent garden centers but sometimes I cannot afford what they are charging for the same plants.