Hydrangea Hero Wanted

Hey everyone so I got this from an online garden store, arrived today, it’s Hydrangea macrophylla Amethyst - Large Flowered XL
As you can see it’s very leggy with only life at the top, not quite what I was expecting. Should I cut this right down? please can someone advise me what I should do? There doesn’t seem to be any new growth apart from the top.
I live in the midlands UK

 

Hi

photo was not what I was expecting it’s very leggy.

with macrophylla you only prune a little as just under the old flowers above fresh shoots just as the new green buds show as they flower on wood/growth that was produced last year , if you cut that you will have no flowers this year.

if you are un happy with your purchase tell the supplier what you were expecting to have ..

If planing to keep , plant and keep well watered this year .and NO pruning .

May I ask how much you paid for it

Spruce

 

Spruce is right, definitely don't cut it back or you'll lose this year's flowers. I'd just plant it, water it well and leave it alone. Macrophyllas are tougher than they look and it should fill out over the summer once it settles in. If it still looks leggy by autumn you could take a couple of the longest stems back to a strong pair of buds then.