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 'Purple Tiers'

This is a 3-4" shrub. Flower heads are rounded and the florets are perfectly arranged in a ring. Double with egg shaped small petals. What is remarkable is the color range of these flowers. We have seen purple, blue and pink flowers on the same plant. The same characteristics also apply to H.serrata 'Miyama yae murasaki'. So this may be the english name for this plant.

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.