Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Common name: 
Smooth Hydrangea
Pronunciation: 
hi-DRAN-je-a ar-bo-RES-senz
Family: 
Hydrangeaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf, deciduous shrub, fast growing to 3 to 6 ft (0.9-1.6 m) high with a similar spread, forming a rounded mound.  Leaves opposite, simple, ovate to elliptic, 5 to 20 cm long and 5 to 15 cm wide, dark green above and pale green below, strongly serrated, base rounded or cordate, tip has a gradual tapper (acuminate).  Flower clusters are green at first and then dull white, large, broadly rounded, symmetrical, a foot (30 cm) in diameter; long lasting, a month or more, then gradually turn brown. 

  • Sun to partial shade, maintain evenly moist soil

  • Hardy to USDA Zone (3) 4   The native range of the species is from Nenw York to Iowa and south to Florida and Louisiana.    'Annabella' was developed at the Univ. of Ilinois by J.C. McDaniel.

  • arborescens:  arbor, tree, suggesting the shrub is similar to a small tree (an hyperbole)

  • Oregon State Univ. campus: north side of Parking Garage (PS1) on Washington Way east of 26th St.

Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, spring

    plant habit, spring

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaf

    leaf

  • start of flowering

    start of flowering

  • developing flower cluster

    developing flower cluster

  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower clusters

    flower clusters

  • flower cluster

    flower cluster

  • plant habit, late summer

    plant habit, late summer

  • flower clusters and leaves, late summer

    flower clusters and leaves, late summer