Plant DetailShow Menu

Hydrangea hydrangeoides is often confused with:
Hydrangea anomala Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris
Hydrangea hydrangeoides 'Moonlight' In Bloom
Native alternative(s) for Hydrangea hydrangeoides:
Hydrangea barbara Flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Clematis armandii Clematis armandii
Lonicera acuminata Lonicera alseuosmoides
Lonicera x heckrottii Lonicera X heckrottii

Hydrangea hydrangeoides

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Schizophragma hydrangeoides
Phonetic Spelling
hy-DRAN-jee-uh hy-dran-jee-OY-deez
Description

Japanese hydrangea vine is a clinging vine that climbs by means of holdfasts (adhesive disks) or small aerial roots and grows best on a flat surface, such as stone, masonry walls or wood. It will grow in full sun, partial shade, or full shade but seems to do best in partial shade and prefers well-drained moist, humus-rich soil. It will flower best in partial or dappled shade, but it tolerates heavy shade very well. It is drought tolerant once established but is intolerant of wet sites with standing water. Plants are slow to establish and may take up to 7 years to produce fragrant lacecap-like flowers.

This is a tall-growing deciduous vine with its showy flowers appearing from early to mid-summer.  It is little known in the U.S. but is common in the deep forests of Japan. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Moonlight', 'Roseum'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#white flowers#shade garden#low maintenance#winter interest#cottage garden#moist soil#well-drained soil#multistemmed#spreading#rich soils#trellises#climbing vines#summer flowers#dappled sunlight#deer resistant#acidic soils tolerant#Asian garden#flowers midsummer#humidity tolerant#garden walls#vine#partial shade tolerant#heavy shade tolerant#dense growth#shade vines#fence
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Moonlight', 'Roseum'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#white flowers#shade garden#low maintenance#winter interest#cottage garden#moist soil#well-drained soil#multistemmed#spreading#rich soils#trellises#climbing vines#summer flowers#dappled sunlight#deer resistant#acidic soils tolerant#Asian garden#flowers midsummer#humidity tolerant#garden walls#vine#partial shade tolerant#heavy shade tolerant#dense growth#shade vines#fence
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hydrangea
    Species:
    hydrangeoides
    Family:
    Hydrangeaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Layering
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Korea and Japan
    Distribution:
    Woods and forests in the mountains of Japan.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Fragrance
    Screening
    Climbing Method:
    Clinging
    Twining
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Dense
    Mounding
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Dehiscent capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Green
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Wheel
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    This plant has 8 in. flat-topped flower cluster (lacecap) composed of numerous fertile flowers surrounded by sterile outer petals (sepals). Petioles are reddish-brown (just before the leaf blade). Bracts are a pale-green, white or pink.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are coarsely toothed, a darker green above, paler green below, 2-5 inches long, oval to broadly cordate. The veins show under the leaf as a pale-green. However, young leaves and leaf stalks are reddish.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Peeling
    Bark Description:
    Cinnamon brown with flaky, peeling bark. Provides winter interest.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Petioles are reddish-brown (just before the leaf blade). The leaf stems are light green. Buds greenish-brown with a slight reddish tinge, acute, scales imbricate.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Rock Wall
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heat
    Heavy Shade
    Humidity