Hydrangea arborescens
Smooth Hydrangea
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.White flowers bloom in May-July, attracting pollinating bees, wasps and beetles to this small shrub.
Description:
In May-July, clusters of tiny white fertile flowers bloom on the tips of branches, some with scattered sterile flowers appearing at the cluster margins, adding visual appeal. Flowers may continue to bloom throughout the summer. Seed capsules ripen in the fall. Smooth Hydrangea is native to moist woodlands and stream banks. It prefers moist, well-drained soils in part shade, although it tolerates full sun with consistent moisture. Intolerant of drought. This medium to large shrub may die to the ground in cold winters, and can be cut down to the ground to revitalize growth. Blooms occurs on new wood, so it’s best to prune in late winter. Plant as part of a mixed shrub border, within a partly shady woodland edge, or as a backdrop for your perennial garden. Wildlife Value: The flowers are attractive to pollinators including bees, wasps, and beetles.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: Wild Hydrangea
Plant Type: Shrub
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Late Spring to Early Summer
Bloom Colors: White
Deer Resistance: None
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Bees and Other Pollinators
Salt Tolerance: Unknown
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: Ridge & Valley - RV, Piedmont - P, Highland - H
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Partial Shade
Light Range: Partial Shade, Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Drought Tolerance: Low
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 3 - 5 ft
Spread: 3 - 6 ft
Growth Rate: Fast