Hydrangea arborescens

Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is a small, mound-shaped, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that typically grows 3-6 feet tall and is often broader than it is high at maturity. It features flat-topped clusters of delicate, greenish-white flowers that bloom from May to August. Smooth Hydrangea thrives in part shade and prefers rich, well-drained, moist soils, often requiring supplemental watering during hot, dry periods. The plant suckers freely, spreading over large areas, and is fast-growing but short-lived, sometimes treated as an herbaceous perennial and cut to the ground each winter. It is susceptible to sunscald, chlorosis in alkaline soils, and winter dieback, and its brittle canes can break in wind or ice.

Native range

Eastern United StatesNative here

Bloom time

June – August

Garden location

Northwest Shade Bed