Gray Hydrangea Hydrangea cinerea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hydrangea arborescens subsp. discolor
- Hydrangea ashei
- Description
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Ashy hydrangea native deciduous shrub in the Hydrangeaceae family found in rocky forests, along riparian areas and in shaded ravines. In North Carolina, it is found in the southwestern region making it fairly rare in the wild. The common name ashy hydrangea comes from the abundance of gray hairs found on the undersides of the leaves.
Plant it in full sun to partial or dappled shade in moist to occasionally dry, well-drained soils. This small shrub will grow to a mature height 6 feet and width of 3 feet.
Once established, this shrub is tolerant of drought and some heat.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Annabelle'
- 'Annabelle'
- 'Annabelle'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Annabelle'
- 'Annabelle'
- 'Annabelle'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hydrangea
- Species:
- cinerea
- Family:
- Hydrangeaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Members of the Cherokee Nation used this plant medically for liver and gynecological problems as well as to either induce (emetic) or stop vomiting (antiemetic) and nausea.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AR , GA , IL , IN , KY , MA , NC , OK , SC , TN , WV
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Dry capsule fruits appear in May and June are dehiscent (split open) when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Showy white clusters with two types of flowers appear on branch tips. Tiny fertile ones in the center surrounded by an outer ring of flowers with 4 white sepals in a cross pattern reaching 1/2-1 inch across. The petaled flowers serve to attract pollinators to the center fertile flowers. Flowers appear from late spring to late summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite large simple green ovate to elliptic-ovate with a narrow tip. Leaves have a toothed margins, gray hairs on the undersides, and pinnate venation.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth thin bark in brown to orange-red. Three bud scales overlap in a shingle pattern. Twigs are sparsely hairy.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
