JAPANESE MOUNTAIN HYDRANGEAS are hale and hardy.
Bud hardy yet very feminine. High maintenance? Not these ladies. In 10 years they have bloomed every year for everyone I have planted. They remain dormant longer and avoid late frosts. Generally they are somewhat smaller than the H. macrophylla.

H. serrata 'Kurenai'
This is a small shrub rarely over 3 feet high. The flowerheads are surronded by in irregular ring of florets, with petal that turn from white to pink and rosy red. In full sun they will turn full red.

Like their 'French' cousins they like good drainage, good soil and water and fertilizer. But you don't have to hover over them. Just plant them well to begin with and water once a week. Give them acidity, (sulphur) for better blues and alkalinity, (lime) for more pinks.

Don't trim them. Just cut yourself some bouquets. Do yourself a favor...grow some of these. You don't have 15 years to waste.

Zone 6-10.