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Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris

Also Known As

Hydrangea anamola subsp. Petiolaris
Hydrangea anomala 'Petiolaris'
Hydrangea anomala petiolaris
Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris
Hydrangea petiolaris
Climbing Hydrangea
Climbing Hydrangea

Plant type

shrub, groundcover, vine

size

H: 20'-50'
W: 5'-50'

planting zones

4a-9b

More Options

Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris plant details

Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris is a broadleaf deciduous groundcover shrub or vine with green foliage. In spring and summer white flowers emerge. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with mostly sun - shade and even moisture - regular water. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris

Plant type: groundcover shrub or vine
Plant family: hydrangeaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 5 FT - 50 FT - wide, 20 FT - 50 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring and summer
Uses: border plant, clinging, cottage garden, distinctive bark, fall color, serrated leaves, trellis, winter interest, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris

USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
Sun exposure: mostly sun - shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: rabbit, humidity
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris, the climbing hydrangea, is a deciduous vine with glossy green leaves with very showy clusters of lacy white fragrant flowers on woody self-attaching stems (by way of aerial roots). Tolerant of heavy shade. Grow up a tree, wall or fence. Water your selected growing surface to encourage the development of the attaching aerial roots. Usually slow to establish as plants spend the first few years growing a good root system but watch out in year 2 or 3! Whoosh! Photo: Wikipedia.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

"There is no better clinging vine" (Wyman). Eventually large (to 75'!), this vine is beautiful with its 6-10" flat clusters of white flowers and reddish shredding bark. PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

The famous climbing hydrangea. This is the best of the anomala species. The beautiful climber takes a few years to really get going but then grows and climbs its way around and up. It can be enjoyed as a ground cover with its white lacecap type flowers, or let it climb up old stumps or wood walls and it will put on a spectacular display. This plant is also fantastic when allowed to grow up a tree, and does little if any harm provided that it is not allowed to cover the tree's top growth and foliage. Very hardy but needs sun to be at its best.

By: Secret Garden Growers

A deciduous, woody, clinging vine with large, flat clusters of white flowers in June to July. Outer flowers are sterile and inner flowers are fertile and small, for a lacecap effect. Bark on older stems is rich brown and exfoliating.

By: Garden World

Vigorous, sprawling, deciduous vine with heart-shaped lustrous dark green leaves and large white clusters of June flowers. Mature plants have an attractive, exfoliating, reddish brlown bark giving it some winter interest. Also it makes an idea ground cover in shady areas or steep embankments.

By: Nasketucket Gardens

Don't be put off by the name; this climbing Hydrangea features broad white flower heads, reddish bark, and the glossiest leaves. It produces self-clinging, aerial roots that easily attach to just about anything: pergola, wall, fence or tree, and may need 10 years to reach its full height, but patience pays off with this spectacular deciduous specimen. Meanwhile, enjoy it on a north wall with an understory of Corydalis 'Blue Panda' and Geranium 'Ann Folkard'. Large Band.

By: Digging Dog Nursery

A deciduous vining groud cover or climbing vine that will cling to any surface. Deep green heart shaped foliage with a vigorous growth habit, producing 6-8" flat umbels of white flowers in late June. Likes part shade. Hardy zone 4-8. May in time climb to 80'

By: Accents for Home and Garden

Many experts feel this is the finest climbing vine for our gardens. We agree. Admittedly it make take some time for it to first bloom, but the form and foliage are always useful. Grows about 8-10? in ten years. Awards: Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Recommended by: Ohio Plant Selection Committee, & the United States National Arboretum.

By: Fantastic Plants

The famous climbing hydrangea. This is the best of the Anomala species. The beautiful climber takes a few years to really get going but then grows and climbs its way around and up. It can be enjoyed as a ground cover with its white lacecap type flowers, or let it climb up old stumps or wood walls and it will put on a spectacular display. This plant is also fantastic when allowed to grow up a tree, and does little if any harm provided that it is not allowed to cover the tree's top growth and foliage. Very hardy but needs sun to be at its best.

By: Hydrangeas Plus

Climbing hydrangea is a vigorous, sprawling, deciduous vine that clings and climbs by aerial rootlets, typically growing 30-50'. Fragrant, white flowers in a lacecap configuration Flowers bloom in late spring to early summer and the overall effect can be stunning. Heart-shaped, serrate, lustrous, dark green leaves (2-4" long) persist on the vine into late autumn, with little fall color. Exfoliating, reddish brown bark of mature plants is attractive in winter. Once established, this vine can develop a somewhat bushy habit, with lateral branches growing out several feet from the support structure, thus giving the foliage a somewhat tiered effect (particularly when in flower).

By: Oregon Grown Tree Farm

Climbing Hydrangea is a truly beautiful plant suitable for sunny or shady walls. The self clinging stems will grow up wooden or masonry surfaces. A mature plant is a beautiful sight to behold. Prune as desired.

By: Brushwood Nursery

White lacey flowers spring, deciduous, yellow fall color. Strong support, peeling bark, Regular water. Zones 4-8.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

A Missouri Botanical Garden Plant of merit from Japan, Kore and Taiwan that's a vigorous, sprawling vine that clings/climbs by aerial roots. Can be grown as a groundcover, each plant covering up to 200 square feet of garden. In May through July, if features 6-10" wide flat corymbs (clusters of blooms) that are fragrant and lacecap in style. The Heart-shaped, lustrous 2-4" dark green leaves remain on the vine into late autumn. When they're gone, the pealing, cinnamon reddish to orangish brown bark on mature vines as it twists and turns and is as attractive as ANY deciduous vine in winter! Superb when it stark naked! Needs STRONG support if grown vertically.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

Self clinging vine to 25' with flat white flower clusters and cinnamon brown peeling bark.

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

This handsome deciduous vine attaches itself by means of rootlike holdfasts to any porous material, including masonry, wood, and tree bark. The serrated foliage is heart shaped. The early to midsummer flowers are white and appear in large clusters. Slow to get going but worth the wait. AGM winner. GPP award.