Climbing Hydrangea Hydrangea barbara
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Climbing Hydrangea:
Previously known as:
- Decumaria barbara
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-DRAN-jee-uh BAR-bair-ah
- Description
-
Climbing Hydrangea is a deciduous, semi-evergreen woody vine that is native to the southeastern USA and is found in the coastal plain and mountain areas of NC. It is found naturally in swamps, bottomlands, and moist forests. This large leafy vine attaches to structures with aerial rootlets and will cover buildings, trellises, walls, or arbors or can be trained as an espalier. It needs to climb to produce flowers that appear only on new wood. It can be grown as groundcover but will not produce blooms.
Plant Climbing Hydrangea in partial sun to partial shade in moist to wet fertile acidic soils. It does best with afternoon shade. It can tolerate heavy shade, but it will not flower as much as it will in partial or dappled shade. The leaves cover the plant from top to bottom, making it ideal to hide fences or buildings or use as a privacy or screening plant. Propagate it from softwood cuttings as it is quite difficult to grow from seed.
Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Barbara Ann'
- ‘Vickie’
Light yellow flowers
- 'Barbara Ann'
- 'Barbara Ann', ‘Vickie’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Barbara Ann'
- ‘Vickie’
Light yellow flowers
- 'Barbara Ann'
- 'Barbara Ann', ‘Vickie’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hydrangea
- Species:
- barbara
- Family:
- Hydrangeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East USA
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , NY , SC , TN , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It's flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Climbing Method:
- Clinging
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 36 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The vine produces a brown, urn-shaped ribbed capsule that breaks open (dehiscent) and matures in late summer (July-October) and resemble the fruit of Clematis.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 2"-4" flat-topped terminal clusters of small, fragrant, snow-white flowers. Individual flowers are less than an inch, white with numerous stamens. Flowers bloom May-June but only on new wood and when climbing not on the ground.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Shiny dark green oval pointed leaves that fade to tan in fall. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin and pale underside. Up to 12 inches long and 6 inches wide
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Its bark is reddish to gray-brown rough with numerous thin with aerial rootlets.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Humidity
- Wet Soil
