Attempting To Grow Hydrangeas In South East Texas

In my last post I shared with y'all my Costco Hydrangeas that I planted at the beginning of the summer. If you missed that post you can read all about it here. 

My Costco Hydrangeas are not my first attempt at growing hydrangeas. At the end of May of last year I found these beautiful Shooting Star Hydrangeas at Kroger. I fell in love with them immediately even though every grain in my body told me not to buy a grocery plant. I had already been down that road and it had not ended well. I couldn't resist them though so I brought two home. They were happy little plants. I kept them alive and flowering for almost two whole months. I even had a neighbor friend care for them while we went on vacation. I was quite pleased with myself because I have never been able to keep a plant alive. When we got back I was informed that they took a turn for the worst. They didn't like being in a different environment and let's just say by the end of it I had to try and save my beloved Shooting Stars. 

I cut them back to nubs and created a small flower bed in our backyard to plant them. I planted them at the end of August 2018 and to my sheer delight they started to bud almost immediately! Within a week or two this is what they looked like. All fall and winter I had to go out and cover them up when our yard guys came or the bug guy came. They both are known to pull anything out of the ground. I had already lost one previous plant from the big guys good intentions. 

My due diligence paid off and this spring they were actually looking like plants and even flowered.

I just love how unique the Shooting Star Hydrangea is. They didn't flower very much. I am guessing they are one of the varieties that just flower on old wood. 

This is what those two hydrangeas look like today. They are LOVING their spot in the backyard. I am not sure how big/tall they will be getting but  I am excited to see how they flower come next spring.
Do any of y'all have any Shooting Star Hydrangeas?