Good plant, mediocre results — what went wrong with my Hydrangea

Hydrangea is clearly a great plant — I can see that from other people's results. Mine has been decent but not spectacular, and I think I know why.

I underestimated the importance of watering in dry spells in the first two seasons after planting in the early stages and paid for it. box blight and box moth caterpillar on Buxus species also knocked the plant back at a critical point. It lives in a low-maintenance foundation planting around a house which is probably not quite right but it's the best I can do in my space. generally low maintenance once established is visible but muted. summer flowering on the current season's growth gave me hope — there are glimpses of what it could be. Three stars for now with potential for four.