Hydrangea barbara (Linnaeus) Bernd Schulz. Subgenus: Decumaria. Section: Decumaria. Common name: Climbing Hydrangea, Woodvamp, Decumary. Phenology: May-Jun; Jul-Oct. Habitat: Swamp forests and bottomlands, moist forests in the mountains. Distribution: Se. VA south to FL and west to LA, s. AR, and e. TX (Singhurst, Keith, & Holmes 2005), inland to nw. SC, se. TN, and w. TN.
ID notes: This handsome vine climbs to the tops of trees via adventitious roots. The opposite leaves are somewhat fleshy in texture. Hydrangea barbara is readily distinguished from the other opposite-leaved, woody vines in our flora (Gelsemium, Trachelospermum, Lonicera, Bignonia, Campsis, and Clematis) by its leaves (simple, ovate, and usually serrate) and climbing structures (adventitious roots).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = K4; = Decumaria barbara L. — Ar, C, F, Fl5, FNA12, G, GW2, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3. Basionym: Decumaria barbara L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Decumaria barbara - FNA12
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (name change)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (name change)
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (name change)
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
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© Alan Cressler: Decumaria barbara, Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glades Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Bibb County, Alabama 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
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© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alvin Diamond, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alvin Diamond source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
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© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Alvin Diamond, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alvin Diamond source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
no rights reserved, uploaded by Alan Weakley source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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Height: Climbs up to 50 ft.
plant sale text: One of our most handsome native woody vines, climbing hydrangea is often overlooked by gardeners. Clusters of small fragrant white flowers are very showy. The shiny leaves look attractive spring through fall. Climbing hydrangea can be encouraged to climb a tree. There is a fine specimen in our shade garden area. In the wild, climbing hydrangea grows in open woods, swamps and on riverbanks. It tolerates acid clay soil.
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native range: southeastern United States
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