Garden Goods Direct | Climbing Hydrangea

The Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris) is a unique departure from the standard hydrangea. Plant this vining specimen in your yard this spring to enjoy fragrant large white flower clusters in May through June. The enchanting lace cap flowers are surrounded by heart-shaped, dark green foliage that makes the Climbing Hydrangea’s color pop. No trellis is needed to grow these flowering vines for the Climbing Hydrangea vine grows effortlessly without help or support. The vines even have the ability to cling to a concrete wall or tree using their aerial roots. The Climbing Hydrangea vine flourishes in moist, well-drained soils that are acidic. However, this resilient plant will tolerate dryer conditions as well. Growing Climbing Hydrangea plants is incredibly low maintenance and very worth the beauty it brings to a yard. Ideal conditions for the climbing Hydrangea include full shade and a well-draining soil medium. However, these hardy yard shrubs can also tolerate partial shade, afternoon shade, and full sun in cooler climates. This shade-loving plant can be slow to establish, but don’t let it fool you. Once a root system is developed, vigorous climbing begins, and it can cover your trellis or wall in no time. In the fall, this deciduous plant thins, revealing the reddish-brown stems beneath. The bare stem form allows sun to shine through and makes for a stunning winter interest shrub. Or, if you so desire, you could train your climbing hydrangea to grow horizontally and become an extraordinary ground cover. The unique early summer blooms of this plant also make for a stunning drying flower bouquet.