Hydrangeas are a spectacular addition to summer shade gardens, thriving in all-day filtered sun, or morning sun and afternoon shade. 'Zebra' has dramatic almost-black stems that contrast beautifully with the large white mophead flowers that bloom all summer and are gorgeous cut flowers. The shrub itself is deciduous, losing its large green serrated leaves in the fall, at which point you may prune the stems back to keep the shrub in check when it leafs out in the spring. While the big leaf hydrangeas can grow in sunnier environments, chances are the leaves and flowers will get burned by the late afternoon sun, regardless of how much they are watered.