Hydrangea anomala var. petiolaris
Common name: 
Climbing Hydrangea
Pronunciation: 
hi-DRAN-je-a a-NOM-a-la pet-i-o-LA-ris
Family: 
Hydrangeaceae
Genus: 
Hydrangea
Synonyms: 
H. petiolaris
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous vine, 60-80 ft (18-24 m), climbing, clinging by root-like holdfasts.  Leaves opposite, simple, 5-10 cm, broad ovate to ovate oval, dark green above, lighter below.   Flowers white, 4 petaled, in flat-topped clusters, outer flowers (sepals) sterile and showy (similar to Viburnum plicatum). The fruit is a small (~4 mm) dry urn-shaped capsule containing several winged seeds.
  • Sun to part shade, requires rich, well-drained, moist soil (Dirr, 1998, p. 434, "The best vine!")
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4      Native to Japan and China, introduced 1865.
  • Hydrangea: "waterjar", referring to its cup shaped fruit;    anomala abnormal;    petiolaris: conspicuous petioles
  • Corvallis: Montessori School at northwest corner of Grant Ave. and 27th St. (2013)
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, shady, before and at flowering

    plant habit, shady, before and at flowering

  • flower clusters, shady

    flower clusters, shady

  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower clusters and leaves

    flower clusters and leaves

  • leaves

    leaves

  • plant habit, winter

    plant habit, winter

  • buds, winter

    buds, winter