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'Forever Pink' and other bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are not completely hardy in the North. Flower buds of this species form on the previous season's growth. When cold winters partially kill branch tips, few or no flowers form the following year.
Avoid overfertilizing, says Edmond Marrotte, consumer horticulturist at the University of Connecticut. Hydrangeas are light feeders. Too much nitrogen could halt bud production and increase the plant's susceptibility to winterkill.
Marrotte suggests visiting local nurseries and friends' yards to see what hydrangea varieties would do better in your area. White-flowered Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora' is hardy to Zone 3 and is widely available.
