Climbing Hydrangea
Vines & Climbers
- Large white flower heads have a charming fragrance!
- Climbing vines can reach up to 30 feet.
- Dark green glossy foliage and exfoliating bark create all-season interest.
- Zones 4-9, sun/part sun, 30' tall x 20' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Climbing hydrangea
Zone: 4 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun-Part Sun
Height x width: 10-30' x 10-20'
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer-fall
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Heat tolerant, fragrant, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Background, foundation planting, hedge, massing, ornamental, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Most varieties tolerate full sun in the North, but benefit from afternoon shade. Tolerates full sun only if grown with consistent moisture. In the South, plants require afternoon shade. Avoid dry conditions or drought - though established plants can survive, they'll look less than ideal when stressed.
Water: Water to keep soil moist, but not wet. If you are planting under a tree, pay particular attention to watering, as the tree will likely compete more effectively for water than the climbing hydrangea.
Spacing: 10 ft. recommended, but it depends on your design goal.
Fertilizing: Fertilize once in spring with a fertilizer designed to encourage blooms (such as 15-30-15).
Winterizing: Nothing special required, beyond a 2-3" layer of shredded bark mulch.
Maintenance & pruning: This variety blooms on old wood. If it is growing too large, prune to the desired size immediately after flowering. Pruning in late summer, fall, winter, or spring will remove developing flower buds. In spring, only prune out dead wood once the new growth has emerged. Does not transplant well, unless still very young and not attached to a structure.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.