Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hydrangea:
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-DRAN-jee-ah ar-bor-ESS-sens
- Description
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Smooth hydrangea is a rounded, deciduous shrub in the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae). It is native to moist or rocky wooded slopes, ravines, streambanks, and bluff bases in the eastern United States. It grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide and is the most common native hydrangea in North Carolina. The name hydrangea is derived from Greek and Latin and taken to mean water vessel, in reference to the "cup-like form of the seed-capsule."
It is very cold hardy but will also grow in warmer climates. It requires neutral to acidic, well-drained soils in partial shade; it will tolerate full sun only if grown with consistent moisture. It blooms on new wood and can be pruned back close to the ground in late winter to encourage vigorous stem growth. At the very least, weak and damaged stems should be removed in early spring. Propagate smooth hydrangea by layering, seed, or stem cutting.
Several named cultivars have sterile flowers that make a ball-shaped bloom. A few modern hybrids have been bred to have pink flowers. Unlike some other hydrangeas, the flower color is not affected by the soil pH. Smooth hydrangea is the host plant of the hydrangea sphinx moth.
Consider smooth hydrangea planted in mass or a specimen for native, pollinator, rain, or shade gardens. It attracts butterflies, moths, pollinators, and songbirds as well as being a host plant for the larvae of the Hydrangea sphinx (Darapsa versicolor) moth. It is deer, rabbit, and salt resistant. It grows well on a slope, naturalized area, or in a woodland.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is susceptible to bud blight, bacterial wilt, leaf spots, mold, rust, and powdery mildew. Aphids, mites, scale, and nematodes may also be a problem.
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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- 'Annabelle'
- 'Grandiflora'
- 'Hayes Starburst'
Star shaped florets
'Incrediball'
- 'White Dome'
Very large lace-cap blooms
Large pink flower heads 'Invincibelle Ruby'
Bright ruby red and silvery pink blooms 'Invincibelle Spirit'
Pink flowered 'Invincibelle Spirit II'
Flower color ages to an attractive green - 'Annabelle'
- 'Annabelle', 'Grandiflora', 'Haas' Halo', 'Hayes Starburst', 'Incrediball', 'Invincibelle Ruby', 'Invincibelle Spirit', 'Invincibelle Spirit II', 'White Dome'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Annabelle'
- 'Grandiflora'
- 'Hayes Starburst'
Star shaped florets
'Incrediball'
- 'White Dome'
Very large lace-cap blooms
Large pink flower heads 'Invincibelle Ruby'
Bright ruby red and silvery pink blooms 'Invincibelle Spirit'
Pink flowered 'Invincibelle Spirit II'
Flower color ages to an attractive green - 'Annabelle'
- 'Annabelle', 'Grandiflora', 'Haas' Halo', 'Hayes Starburst', 'Incrediball', 'Invincibelle Ruby', 'Invincibelle Spirit', 'Invincibelle Spirit II', 'White Dome'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hydrangea
- Species:
- arborescens
- Family:
- Hydrangeaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It was used by the Cherokees as an emetic, and as an antiseptic. The inner bark and leaves were chewed as a stimulant, for stomach problems and high blood pressure. A poultice of scraped bark was used for burns and sore or swollen muscles.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.
- Distribution:
- New York to Florida, west to Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The wild hydrangea flowers are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds. It is the host plant of the hydrangea sphinx moth.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- The Cherokee would eat the new growth of young twigs peeled, boiled or fried.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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)
- Sand
- 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, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dehiscent ribbed brown capsules which ripen in July-September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Radial
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The wild hydrangea has tiny white fertile flowers that bloom in May-July in flattened hairy clusters (corymbs to 2-6”across). Scattered continuing flowering may occur throughout summer to September. A few large sterile flowers usually appear at the cluster margins (usually not enough for a quality lacecap effect). Flowers give way to dehiscent seed capsules which ripen in October-November. The native Smooth Hydrangea is white, 6 to 8 inches, flattened corymb in summer; opens white then turns green and brown. The named cultivars have typical ball-shaped hydrangea flowers 8 to 12 inches across. Newer cultivars can be found with pink flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The wild hydrangea has gray-brown stems are clad with opposite, simple, broad egg-shaped to rounded, sharply toothed, dark green leaves (2-6” 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
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Erosion
- Fire
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
