Hydrangea arborescens Linnaeus. Subgenus: Hydrangea. Section: Hydrangea. Common name: Smooth Hydrangea, Northern Wild Hydrangea, Sevenbark. Phenology: May-Jul. Habitat: Forests, especially around rock outcrops and along streambanks. Distribution: NJ, s. NY, OH, IN, IL, MO, and se. KS south to e. NC, c. SC, c. GA, Panhandle FL, s. AL, LA, and OK.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, Fl5, FNA12, Il, K4, NE, NY, Pa, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Pilatowski (1982), (basionym); = Hydrangea arborescens L. ssp. arborescens — Mo3, RAB, McClintock (1957); = Hydrangea arborescens L. var. arborescens — C, G, WV; > Hydrangea arborescens L. var. arborescens — F; > Hydrangea arborescens L. var. oblonga Torr. & A.Gray — F
Links to other floras: = Hydrangea arborescens - FNA12
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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Horticultural Information
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Comments: These shrubs grow on shady, often moist, roadbanks and cliffs of North Carolina mountains and upper piedmont regions. The white, showy, 3-4 lobed calyx of the outer, sterile flowers is about 3/4 inch across. The compact center of the inflorescence is made up of small fertile flowers. The under surface of the leaves of various subspecies of this spreading shrub may be white, gray, or green.
Height: 3-5 ft.
plant sale text: Smooth Hydrangea is a small deciduous shrub that bears numerous flowers in showy cymes. Its flowers change color over time, progressing from pale green to creamy white to brown. Mature plants eventually develop handsome exfoliating bark that is attractive year-round. This native species grows best when it is planted in moist, well-drained soil in part shade. It is found growing in rich woods and on shady rock ledges in the piedmont and mountains. The bark and leaves were used by the Cherokee tribe for medicinal uses.
bloom table text:
description:
stems:
leaves:
inflorescence:
flowers:
fruits:
comments: These shrubs grow on shady, often moist, roadbanks and cliffs of North Carolina mountains and upper piedmont regions. The white, showy, 3-4 lobed calyx of the outer, sterile flowers is about 3/4 inch across. The compact center of the inflorescence is made up of small fertile flowers. The under surface of the leaves of various subspecies of this spreading shrub may be white, gray, or green.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern United States