Smooth Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA3' Invincibelle® Ruby
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Smooth Hydrangea:
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-DRAN-jee-uh ar-bor-RES-senz
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Invincibelle® Ruby is a dwarf smooth hydrangea cultivar with very strong stems. It has dark burgundy-red flower buds that open to a two-toned combination of bright ruby red and silvery pink. It is dramatic and unique and makes excellent cut flowers. It blooms on new growth and is a strong rebloomer, producing gorgeous blossoms from summer into fall and can be used as a low hedge, specimen, in a mixed border, or foundation planting.
This plant will do best In sites where there is ample moisture. If it is not too hot, full sun will result in more compact plants with heavier blooms. Plants will become stretched out if grown in the shade. However, in warmer climates afternoon shade is recommended. Plants should be mulched 2-3 inches to retain moisture in summer and protect shallow roots in winter.
This hydrangea was developed as a collaborative project with NC State University and Spring Meadow Nursery. U.S. Plant Patent Applied for (PPAF).
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 landscape:
- 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.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: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a 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
- Moist
- 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
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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 capsule which ripen October-November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Giant 12" mop head inflorescences of dark burgundy and silvery pink, appear mid-summer to frost blooming on new wood. Strong rebloomer. Bloom color is not affected by soil pH.
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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
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, broad egg-shaped to rounded, sharply toothed, dark green leaves, on strong, supportive stems, with pale green undersides. Leaves turn yellow in fall.
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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 Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Erosion
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and sweating. Cyanide intoxication is rare - usually produces more of a gastrointestinal disturbance.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Hydrangin, a cyanogenic glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Stems
