Lacecaps and H. querciifolia in cold (Zone 5) climates

[MaineDesigner]

I'm not a huge hydrangea fan but enough people are that I'm feeling some pressure to improve my expertise. Here in Midcoast Maine H. arborescens and H. paniculata are easy but I don't really much like either of them. I find H. quercifolia and the lacecap H. macrophylla cultivars to be far more attractive plants. Does anyone here who gardens in Zone 5 have any tips beyond the obvious "protected location" for getting these plants to survive and semi-reliably bloom near their hardiness limits? Are there any lacecap cultivars that anyone has found to be superior to 'Blue Billows' in cold climates? Is anyone growing H. serrata cultivars successfully in Zone 5? If so, which ones?