Wild Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Hydrangeaceae
Genus:
Hydrangea
Species:
Hydrangea arborescens

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
8-12 ft
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may, jun, jul, aug
Bloom Colors:
White, Green
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Hydrangea sphinx (Darapsa versicolor)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) Moths:Aspilanta hydrangaeella (Aspilanta hydrangaeella)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers organic matter-rich environments

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: None required

Establishment: Seedlings germinated quickly but failed to put on much growth during January and February. They were grown under extended (14-hour) day length.

Source: npn.rngr.net