PlantsShade & Groundcovers

Wild Hydrangea

Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Wild Hydrangea in flower
In flower · (c) Evelyn Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

Hydrangea arborescens

Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.

Native woodland hydrangea

EasyShade & GroundcoversAlso Shrubs & Vines
Light
Part shade–shade
Moisture
Medium–moist
Mature size
3–6 ft
Spacing
3–6 ft
Bloom or harvest
Flowers Jun–Aug
How it spreads
Moderate suckering
What to buy
Container or balled-and-burlapped; bare-root in early spring.
When to plant
Early Apr–May after soil thaws and drains; Sep–mid Oct for container/B&B. Bare-root: early spring.

In the design

Provide mature width; prune for access and renewal rather than forcing it into a small space.

Plants that share this spot

More in this group

Reference details
Conservatism value
10
Wetland indicator
FACU