What is a Climbing Hydrangea?
Climbing hydrangea is a hydrangea cultivar which has been bred to climb as a vine, rather than to develop as a shrub. This plant can be used in a wide variety of settings in the garden, and there is no upper limit on the growth of climbing hydrangea, except for available space. When well cared-for, this vine can exceed 80 feet (24 meters) in height, and it can be quite distinctive, with a very thick trunk, sturdy branches, and cascading leaves.
Climbing hydrangea is a hydrangea cultivar which has been bred to climb as a vine, rather than to develop as a shrub. This plant can be used in a wide variety of settings in the garden, and there is no upper limit on the growth of climbing hydrangea, except for available space. When well cared-for, this vine can exceed 80 feet (24 meters) in height, and it can be quite distinctive, with a very thick trunk, sturdy branches, and cascading leaves. This plant is formally known as Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris. It appears to be native to the coastal regions of Japan and China, preferring woodlands, where plenty of climbing material is available. It thrives in USDA zones four through seven, preferring temperate climates, as a general rule. While it can survive in more extreme temperature zones, freezing temperatures and excessively high temperatures can overwhelm climbing hydrangea.
