Invincibelle™ Spirit Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA1'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-DRAN-jee-uh ar-bor-RES-senz
- Description
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The Invincibelle™ Spirit mountain hydrangea is the first-ever pink-flowered 'Annabelle' hydrangea. The bloom color is not dependent on soil pH, with dark pink florets in the bud, maturing to bright pink, and flowers from summer to frost. It was developed at North Carolina State University’s Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station and was awarded "Best-In-Show" at the 2010 IGC Show in Chicago. It is 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide at maturity and is a strong rebloomer.
This plant is grown in average, well-drained soils. Its growth rate is slow and it does not tolerate drought. It may tolerate full sun if consistent moisture is available but does best in a partially shaded location. The plant may die back in harsh winters but then blooms on new wood.
The mop head flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators and make excellent cut flowers. This is also the host plant for the caterpillars of the Hydrangea Sphinx moth.
This hydrangea makes a stunning background for a perennial border or as a mass planting in a woodland setting. It can also be used in a cutting, pollinator, rain, or shade garden. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Hydrangea sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor)
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems, although it is susceptible to bud blight, bacterial wilt, leaf spots, mold, rust, and powdery mildew like many other hydrangeas. It may also be troubled by aphids, mites, scale, and nematodes.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Hydrangeas in the Garden Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Part Sun-Part Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hydrangea
- Species:
- arborescens
- Family:
- Hydrangeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- US cultivar
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The wild hydrangea flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insects. Songbirds eat the seeds. It is the host plant of the caterpillars of the Hydrangea Sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor) which feed on the leaves.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dehiscent seed capsules ripen in late fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This pink named cultivar has a ball-shaped flower head 6-8 " across that blooms summer to early fall. The mop head flower has showy sterile florets that begin as a dark pink bud that matures to bright pink.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate to elliptic dark green leaves (3-8” long) with pale green undersides. The leaves turn yellow in fall. The lower leaf surface is smooth or with inconspicuous fine hairs.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- Brown and finely shredded, peels off in thin layers with different colors.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Heat
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
