Has anyone ever had luck getting hydrangeas established from a small 3.5"potted plant? I am too cheap to "test" the establishement of 5 or more  2-gallon plants when they run over $20 each.

I have tried to establish both azaleas and hydrangeas - two of my favorite flowering shrubs - in my yard at various times, but never with any luck. After reviewing the sun needs of tall ornamental grasses I like, such as Zebra grass, I have concluded that a compact flowering shade-loving shrub that doesn't need too much pruning would be the a more appropriate backdrop at the "top" of the berm in fron of our tiny cottage. A fluffy, flowering hydrangea would also be genre-appropriate; meaning, it would coordinate better with the style of home we have. I still find ornamental grasses gorgeous (I have some surrounding my pond area in back) but the varieties I like require lots of sun.

The island of Brigantine, NJ - where I spent childhood summers, and still visit annually - was known for their "hydrangea trail" back in the days when most homes were modest seaside cottages, flanked by the blooming beauties that apparently thrived in the sandy soil.

Perhaps my soil here has too much clay content and thus doesn't drain fast enough. Maybe I should bring home some of the Big Flats sand to amend the soil in my IL yard??