Clethra is a shrub with white spire-shaped flowers that blooms in July-August. It’s about the same size as hydrangea. It does well is almost any light condition but thrives in full sun to part shade. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c230

PP’s have suggested some nice plants, but few will replace the amount of area that hydrangeas fill. I second the idea of hydrangea paniculata.

You may like abelia, it’s a long blooming shrub with peachy-pink flowers that is in the honeysuckle family. It smells lovely and attracts pollinators. It does need good sun, however.

There are also compact varieties of crepe myrtle that will give you long lasting color through July, August, and September. While all crepe myrtles are shrubs, we’re accustomed to seeing them grown in tree form. There are dwarf varieties that can be pruned in a bushy shape that don’t get very large. These are also full sun plants.

If you like a hydrangea-like look, you might appreciate viburnum plicatum ‘Summer Snowflake’. There are many types of viburnum, but this the only one I’m aware of that blooms throughout the summer and into September.

One of the trade-offs with perennials is that most do not flower for long. Annuals have longer-lasting flowering seasons. One way people get around that is to look for plants with multi-season interest like attractive berries, colorful fall foliage, and/or bright bark. The other way people get around it is to plant a variety of plants that will bloom at different times. If you vary your foundation plantings and pop some colorful flowers in front, you can have full-season interest even without a shrub that blooms all summer long.

Hydrangea paniculata does well in full sun if you still want a hydrangea. Add to those some Autum Joy sedum, red twig dogwood, and fall anemone for fall interest; combine with rudbeckia and salvia for summer; add daffodills and grape hyacinth for early spring.

Do a combo of plants - some Autumn Sedum, CatMint or Lavendar, Echinacea

Dinner plate Dhalias. They grow well in direct sun and bloom for 8-10 weeks in mid-summer.

Or roses, but only if you're willing to tend to them.

Clethra.

Anonymous wrote:We have a few hydrangea bushes around our porch. Back when the porch area was more shaded, they did well. But since we've lost a few trees, the hydrangea are in full sun for the majority of the day, and we are not able/willing to water them enough so that they are happy. I'd like to replace them with either 1.) a different shrub that flowers in the summertime and would enjoy a sunny, dry spot or 2.) some 2'-4' tall annuals that will bloom all summer long. Any suggestions?

OP again! Sorry, I meant to say PERENNIALS -- not annuals!

We have a few hydrangea bushes around our porch. Back when the porch area was more shaded, they did well. But since we've lost a few trees, the hydrangea are in full sun for the majority of the day, and we are not able/willing to water them enough so that they are happy. I'd like to replace them with either 1.) a different shrub that flowers in the summertime and would enjoy a sunny, dry spot or 2.) some 2'-4' tall annuals that will bloom all summer long. Any suggestions?