Climbing Hydrangea

BY: Elizabeth Noll

We think we know hydrangeas because we know big shrubs with top-heavy flowers. Meet climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris), a member of the same genus, but with a completely different look. This one will attach itself with aerial rootlets to your shady north wall and zoom skyward, creating a bushy curtain of heart-shaped leaves. Lateral branches grow somewhat perpendicular to the ground, creating a bit of a ladder effect. Fragrant white lacecap flowers appear in spring or summer, and the shaggy cinnamon-colored bark becomes an ornament in winter, along with the brown, dried flowers.

Common name: Climbing hydrangea
Botanical name: Hydrangea petiolaris (also H. anomala subsp. petiolaris)
Plant type: Perennial vine
Zones: 4 to 9
Height: To 50 feet
Family: Hydrangeaceae

Growing conditions
• Sun: Part to full shade
• Soil: Rich, well-drained
• Moisture: Average to moist

Care
• Mulch: Mulch to preserve moisture in the soil.
• Pruning: If the vine needs to be trimmed, cut it back after it flowers.
• Fertilizer: None needed.

Propagation
• By seed and cuttings

Pests and diseases
• Vulnerable to slugs.
• Powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and leaf spots can be problems.

Garden notes
• Climbing hydrangea can be slow to get started, but it will grow faster after its roots are established.
• Be sure to provide a sturdy support (such as a wall), as this vigorous vine can get very tall. It also becomes very woody with age.
• Try using climbing hydrangea as a ground cover in shady and partly shady areas—it can cover up to 200 square feet.
• The lacecap flowers are good for cutting and drying.

Cultivars
• H. petiolaris ‘Fire Fly’ has leaves with yellow to cream margins.
• H. petiolaris ‘Skyland’s Giant’ has larger flowers than the species.

All in the family
• Hydrangeaceae, the hydrangea family, also includes the genera Philadelphus (mock orange) and Schizophragma, among others. The Japanese hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides) is often confused with climbing hydrangea.
• The genus Hydrangea contains about 80 species of shrubs and climbers.

Where to buy
• Bluestone Perennials, Madison, OH, 800-852-5243, www.bluestoneperennials.com.
• Hydrangeas Plus, Aurora, OR, 866-433-7896, www.hydrangeasplus.com
• Wilkerson Mill Gardens, Palmetto, GA, 770-463-2400, www.hydrangea.com

(Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of Hydrangea petiolaris courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden’s Kemper Center for Home Gardening)

Comments

By coneil1 Friday, July 16, 2010 9:24 PM

I bought one of these from bluestone perennials in may. Very healthy plant, im looking forward to watching it grow each year!

By wevans1 Saturday, October 09, 2010 11:23 AM

Have had a H. Petiolaris climbing the chimney for a number of years. When it bloomed it was terrific and an eye catcher. However the blooming has been erratic and for the last number of years almost non-existent. Its microclimate has changed though from partly shady to nearly full sun after the loss of a neighbors large tree to the ice storm a couple yesars back. Because it is on the west side of our home it gets the hot afternoon sun sso we will mulch more heavily and will try to add more organic matter to the soil along with a spring tonic to see if this will help to produce more bloom more regularly.