Hydrangea arborescens - Smooth Hydrangea

Morphology/Growth Habits: Widely branched deciduous shrub with long bloom time. Beautifully dark green, ovate foliage that turns golden in the fall. Dense, rounded clusters of bright white flowers come and last throughout the summer. As the flowers fade, they turn a beautiful tan-rose color. Flowers will give way to seed capsules which ripen in the Fall. Blooms occur on new growth, so this shrub can be pruned close to the ground during late Winter for better future growth. Over time, the bark becomes papery and peels, adding a beautiful effect. Spreads by seed and suckers and can be propagated by cuttings. Often broader than tall once it reaches maturity.

Height: 3-5 ft

Light: Part Shade

Moisture: Medium

Bloom color: White

Bloom time: June-Sept

Habitat/Best Environments: Found in wooded slopes, ravines, and streambanks. Grows best in well-drained soil and part shade. It can tolerate more sun if the soil is kept consistently moist. This shrub is considered adaptable to many sun and soil conditions, although it cannot tolerate drought. Salt resistant.

Ecological relationships: Flowers attract many pollinators, including bumblebees. Larval host for Hydrangea Sphynx. *Used extensively in Cherokee and Lenape medicine, including to treat gallstones and menstrual cramps.

*Please soil test and do proper research before growing a plant for human consumption.