My 8 year old fell in love with the August Beauty Gardenia she saw at the gardening center last night. I held off from buying it because I've always considered it hard to grow - like a hydrangea. However, I told her I would research it and maybe get it today. We have tons of shade! While I appreciate that in the summer, we would still enjoy some more flowering shade tolerant bushes that won't get huge (I already have Turk's cap). Has anyone had any luck growing these or anything else that might give us some color in the shade and not be HUGE! ? Thanks a bunch!

Oh. I did try an Oakleaf Hydrangea. It DID (past tense) great. Unfortunately, it got too much water with all the rain we had (and I'm sure powerwashing the house didn't help either) and died on me! I can't find another one - anyone in Austin had luck finding one recently?