Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea Shrub

I planted these 2 vanilla strawberry hydrangeas last spring in Ohio Zone 6 the month of May 2023. By the time that I was able to safely transplant them into the ground after the last threat of frost was over in Ohio they were both so very small and extremely fragile. Their stems were breaking if just lightly touched, and both had unfortunately shed and lost almost ALL of their leaves. I was UPSET that FGT had shipped them to me 8 LONG WEEKS before I was even able to safely transplant them outside in my Zone 6. I had requested a replacement for both of them from FGT because of having them shipped to me 8 long weeks before I could even get them transplanted safely into the ground. I had babied them the best that I was able while they were inside of my home before I could safely move them outside. But by that time, 8 long weeks later, they both honestly looked like they had completely died on me. I sent photos to FGT and they agreed to replace them for me without any problems. I had purchased the additional warranty simply because of how expensive they were. I had paid $160 + for each one and I most definitely wanted this COSTLY investment to be INSURED. But to my surprise and relief they both came out of it. They both started to flourish after finally being able to get them transplanted into the ground. And they even bloomed with beautiful flowers their very 1st year of growing. Now they have grown so much and are huge already their second spring. I can’t believe my eyes on how much they have grown in only one year!! I have them both planted in a sunny location on the south side of my home beside my front porch area (however one of them gets partial shade from a Japanese Maple tree). It wasn’t doing as well as the 100% Sunny located bush last year but it’s grown too just as much as the bush planted in the SUNNY location. They are just now starting to form flowers on them this year and it’s 6/12/24. I am so very happy & extremely pleased with my purchase from FGT of these two beautiful vanilla-strawberry hydrangeas. Last years flowers were mostly only white & a light pink turning eventually to the parchment color. They didn’t change their colors to the red as they were described to do. I am hoping they will turn to this shade of red this 2nd year as FGT’s description of them say that they will. I love the fact that they require NO special extra care. No pruning or fertilizer needed at all. Their only requirement is to water with an inch of water once a week during the dry hot summer days that lack rain. That makes them both VERY EASY to take care of. I may have to cut them back next spring though because I read they grow 6-8 ft tall and I am believing it. Wow! They’ve grown so much and so tall already in just one short year! I had purchased the additional plant warranty just because they were so expensive. But I do not think now that it was absolutely necessary to purchase that warranty. The only reason that I did purchase the additional warranty was because of the $160 + price tag that I paid for each one. That’s a steep investment so I wanted to make sure they would both be insured and able to be replaced if they didn’t thrive and or died. I’m very happy with these 2 vanilla strawberry hydrangeas from fast growing trees. I will be delighted to purchase additional plants from FGT in the future. I have no doubts about being a returning happy customer. I hope FGT lets me post additional pictures after they bloom this summer. So I can show you their beautiful flowers.