In the bowls on the Sante Fe Courtyard are planted some Variegated Lacecap Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mariesii Variegata') (under planted with some white Bacopa). The hydrangeas in these pots were planted last summer. The hydrangeas lost their leaves and were basically dormant all winter long. 
Granted this was not a cold winter - the hydrangeas leaved out and are now blooming nicely.
SHADE Lover! USDA Zone 5-9 will get to be 4 to 6 feet tall in good garden soil. (Hmm... We may need a bigger pot.)
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) USDA Zones 6-9. Shade loving here in Central Texas. Both these varieties would probably like alot more acidic soil than we have here but both these Hydrangeas will preform well. 
We have just recently planted one of the Oakleaf variety by the front entrance to the nursery. It receives morning sun and complete shade in the afternoon. This particular plant spent the winter in its container hidden away in our propagation area while we decided where it should live. The propagation area is total shade - you can see the blooms this plant awarded us.
