THE IMPORTED HYDRANGEAS
CLIMBING HYDRANGEA
The third common imported hydrangea is the Japanese climbing hydrangea (H. anomala) with white lace-cap flowers in midsummer.
The climbing hydrangea is a tough, woody vine often seen clinging to chimneys and fences. It is said to like tree climbing and can go 80 feet up a tree – prefect for the front of a town house. Note, though, that it is a clinging vine, so it can damage masonry as certain ivies do. It gets big, so it is best paired with a substantial structure and, like the cat, should not be encouraged to climb trees.
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Pictures: climbing hydrangea, Bartlett Arboretum, August 2005
Like many woody vines, the climbing hydrangea is fussy about location and slow to get started. However, once established, it is only too hardy. It prefers part shade, so generally does best on the north or east (morning sun) side of a building. Also like many vines, it likes cool, moist roots, so doesn’t forget the mulch. The climbing hydrangea prefers the cooler end of the hydrangea clan range --zones 4 to 7.
Comments (4)
I have a climbing hydrangea that I received from a nursery. they have never seen it bloom and in the 6 months that I have had neither have I. It is in full shade and in a very well drained healthy soil.
what am I doing wrong?
thank you for your answer
Posted by Pamela Meyer | June 21, 2006 2:08 PM
Posted on June 21, 2006 14:08
Pamela --
You're probably not doing anything wrong.
Climbing hydrangea doesn't tend to bloom until mid-summer, so it might surprise you in a few weeks. Also, it takes the plant a few years to get established, so it might just be too young.
The last cause could be too much pruning.
Mulching the roots is very good for the plant; additional fertilizer is generally not necessary
Hope this helps
Sue
Posted by S. W. Sweeney | June 21, 2006 5:26 PM
Posted on June 21, 2006 17:26
I live in Maryland where the deer eat my English ivy. Will they eat climbing hydrangea as well? I need shade-tolorant coverage for a wood fence. Thanks for the advice!
Posted by Allison | August 10, 2006 12:38 PM
Posted on August 10, 2006 12:38
Allison --
I'm glad the deer are eating the ivy since it's invasive. Absolute best bet for part-shade fence is our native woodbine (Virginia creeper)-- it looks wonderful on a wood fence and you can start it from cuttings. read more about woodbine at http://www.inmygarden.org/archives/great_american_native_plants/woodbine/
Where I live, the deer leave the climbing hydrangea alone. That's the best I can say. A very hungry deer, like a very hungry human, will eat anything to stay alive.
I hope this helps
Sue
Posted by Susan Sweeney | August 10, 2006 5:16 PM
Posted on August 10, 2006 17:16