One of the showy spring bloomers, Fendlera is on its own as the sole member of the Hydrangea family found locally. This is a hardy, tough plant that I've even seen growing from cracks in boulders. You can immediately distinguish it from the other spring bloomers by the four distinctly separated petals. The flower buds are often pink when closed, turning pure white when open (see photos). The seed pods remain on the shrub into the following season and rattle when moved. I mention this because I've jumped out of my boots more than once thinking I'd kicked up a baby rattlesnake.