This is one of the most over planted and unattractive plants in my area. Attractive specimens do exist, but they are few and far between. It usually looks rangy, weedy and the blooms are of a muddy, washed out color whether pink or blue. I have three established specimens that I am itching to take out and replace with another hydrangea that is more attractive and reliable, such as 'Annabelle' or 'Little Lime'. A truly inferior cultivar!
By the time that some botanists discovered this species for western botany, its native range has been almost all of Alabama & Mississippi, northwest Florida, eastern Georgia, some of Louisiana, and southern Tennessee. It is sold and grows well in the Chicago, IL area in Zone 5a, though a powerful cold winter can do some harm, but this shows it must have had a larger native range in the past. It has a coarse texture, but it is a lovely shrub for gardens and landscapes with good foliage, good fall color, pretty and large flower clusters, a basically neat habit, and bronzy papery bark. I've seen this species about 4 to 8 feet high. It does ground sucker some, but it is easy to prune. It is somewhat commonly planted in the South, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, and the Northeast USA; used more often by landscape designers than the general public; the former who know it better. The are several cultivars that are available with different sizes of the shrub or leaves and variations in flower structure and size. The mother species and most cultivars have both fertile and infertile flowers, so it does produce pollen and nectar for pollinators. Best to prune after flowering in August for best blooming the following year. Its root system is fibrous with shallow lateral roots and it is stoloniferous with lateral shoots, and it is easy to transplant.
This Hydrangea has huge panicles, 8-10 inches long and 6 inches across, on very long stems. They change colour as they mature, starting lime green, turning true white, and finally developing a rusty pink tinge as they go over.
'Annabelle' is a naturally occurring cultivar that was discovered ~1910 in the wild near Anna, (Southern) Illinois. Plantsman J.C.McDaniels from the University of Illinois named it and promoted it for its extremely large flowers (corymbs) which are considerably larger than the species. It is probably the most grown cultivar of smooth hydrangea. It blooms on new wood, so it is quite hardy. It can be cut to the ground in late winter to promote plant vigor.
My favorite Blue Hydrangea, and a signature plant of my home, Cape Cod. They can be seen everywhere on that small peninsula, blooming all summer until frost. They thrive there best with ample moisture and full sun.
Slow to get established, but once the roots are set in, the plant will take off and climb quickly. Attaches by way of suckering rootlets (not sure of the term) so be cautious of potential damage. Prune heavily in spring to maintain shape and control of new growth. A haven for bird nesting. Large white bloom clusters in early summer against deep green leaves, which then turn a soft yellow in fall before dropping. The flower clusters persist over winter much like any other hydrangea. No disease or insect problems that I have noticed.
Honey bees get nectar and pollen from this plant.
PeeGee is an old-fashioned cultivar that was introduced to the US in 1862 from Japan. Almost all of the florets are large and sterile, very few small fertile ones, and form a tight panicle cluster that begins as white, gets a pinkish tinge, then turns all purplish-pink, then turns brown. The cluster is sort of a rounded pyramidal in shape. The clusters are usually about 6 to 8 inches long, but can get to 12 to 18 inches long. The shrub develops sort of an arching form. Oftentimes, the flower clusters get big and pull the branches down. It needs lots of corrective pruning to keep it neater, in early spring, as it blooms on new wood. It has been commonly sold and planted in the Upper Midwestern USA, and less so in the South or Mid-Atlantic due to the huge popularity of the Bigleaf Hydrangea. I've never been fond of this cultivar. I think that 'Tardiva' and 'Pinky Winky' are better selections.
The proper spelling of this cultivar's name is questionable, possibly due to the use of san serif script.
Developed by Dr. Michael A. Dirr (Plant Introductions, Inc in Georgia). Cultivar was selected from seedlings of an open pollination of Hydrangea macrophylla 'PIIHM-I' (PP20176). It was registered as Hydrangea macrophylla 'PIIHMII' (PP25566, 2015) and is marketed under the trademark Endless Summer® BloomStruck®. It is the fourth Hydrangea variety in the series. Vivid purple or rose-pink mophead type flowers, red stems with darker leaves than the parent.
