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Japanese Climbing Hydrangea Hydrangea anomala

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris
Phonetic Spelling
hy-DRAN-jee-ah ah-NOM-uh-luh
Description

Climbing hydrangea has rich green foliage, mid-summer white flowers, yellow fall color, and striking exfoliating bark in winter. This vine is an early summer bloomer and is excellent for a massed effect on brick or concrete walls, arbors, gazebos, or almost any free-standing garden structure. It clings and/or climbs not only by twining but also by aerial rootlets. This woody vine has an almost shrub-like appearance due to its lateral branches and is native to wooded valleys, stream banks, and on rocky mountain slopes.

Climbing hydrangea is somewhat slow to establish and slow to begin flowering after transplanting. It prefers rich, well-drained, moist soil,  will grow in sun or shade, and can easily grow 60 to 80 feet.  Once established, it has no serious pest problems.

 

More information on Hydrangea.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#shade garden#tendrils#low maintenance#riparian#fall interest#rabbit resistant#erosion control#year-round interest#moist soil#fast growing#mounding#well-drained soil#rich soils#climbing vines#summer flowers#dappled sunlight#children's garden#playground plant#showstopper#groundcover#cutting garden#acidic soils tolerant#fantz#dried arrangements#exfoliating bark#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#arbor#partial shade tolerant#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#shade garden#tendrils#low maintenance#riparian#fall interest#rabbit resistant#erosion control#year-round interest#moist soil#fast growing#mounding#well-drained soil#rich soils#climbing vines#summer flowers#dappled sunlight#children's garden#playground plant#showstopper#groundcover#cutting garden#acidic soils tolerant#fantz#dried arrangements#exfoliating bark#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#arbor#partial shade tolerant#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hydrangea
    Species:
    anomala
    Family:
    Hydrangeaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The bark is used as a paper substitute.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Layering
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Himalayas and China, Japan, Sakhalin, Korea, Taiwan
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Fragrance
    Screening
    Climbing Method:
    Clinging
    Twining
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Mounding
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Tendrils
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Small, dehiscent urn-shaped capsule. Seeds are brownish, ellipsoid to oblong, compressed, 0.7-1 mm with a wing encircling each seed.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Dome
    Wheel
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flat cluster up to 8 inches wide, flat corymbs 6-8" diam.; peduncle 1-1.5" long. Flowers are dimorphic, with a peripheral ring of large sterile flowers, 0.5-1.5" wide; numerous small, creamy white, sweetly fragrant, fertile flowers in the center.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    opposite, simple, 2.5-5" long, ovate to broad-ovate to oval, acute to acuminate, cordate, serrate, glabrate, dark green and lustrous above, paler below with vein axillary pubescent tufts; petiole to 4" long.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Light Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Peeling
    Bark Description:
    Exfoliating, reddish-brown, attractive in winter
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Brown, bark shaggy and exfoliating; shoots with bark exfoliating. Buds greenish brown with slight reddish tinge, acute, scales imbricate.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Recreational Play Area
    Riparian
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Vertical Spaces
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans