Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' - smooth hydrangea
DESCRIPTION
smooth hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Annabelle is one of the best-known and best-loved hydrangeas. Each summer it produces huge, white pom-pom-like blossoms. They are great to make a bouquet for the dinner table and are also quite pretty used in dried flower arrangements. Annabelle flowers on new wood and that means you can cut it back to a foot or two high in late winter and it will flower again profusely that same year. Cutting the plant back like that helps it to keep a lovely form. Makes a pretty, informal hedge.
Benefits
- Flowers are great for cut and dried arrangements
- Excellent for naturalizing in moist or dry soils
- Large leaves offer great cover for small critters
- Easy to grow with very long bloom season
- Huge, showy blooms are great for drying
- Loves part shade but tolerates full sun
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Wooded slopes, ravines and stream banks from New York to Ohio, Missouri, and Oklahoma, south to Georgia, Louisiana, and Arkansas
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
MAP KEY: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
INTERESTING FACTS
If you garden in the woods, consider leaving downed trees, piles of brush with large leaves, and jumbled piles of rocks to provide shelter for all kinds of wildlife.
GROWING TIPS
Grows best in average to medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade although it is quite adaptable to different soil types except for very dry. Tolerates more sun in the northern part of its range. Blooms on new wood so you may cut it back in late winter to 1-2’ to keep the shrub looking young and vigorous.
Mature Size: 3-5ft. Tall x 4-6ft. Wide
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sun Exposure: Part Shade
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American Beauties Offer Solution Based Plant Collections to Help you Choose
Quick Tips for Choosing Plants:
- Planting a variety of native trees, shrubs, perennials and vines increases biodiversity and gives wildlife a source for food, cover and nesting
- Choose a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees so birds and other wildlife will always be able to find shelter
- Plant trees and large shrubs where they will block winter winds from the house and shade it in summer, that will save energy and lower your carbon footprint
- Try your best to buy plants that were grown locally, your independent garden center will be your best bet
- Think about ultimate height and width of the plant you choose, make sure it will fit the space you have for it when it's reached maturity
- Plant nectar plants in groups, to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects more easily
- Ask for help if you need it. Most garden centers either have a landscape designer on staff or they can give you a reference of a designer that is adept at native plant wildlife gardening. There will be upfront costs but they are small when compared to having to redo a landscape that wasn't what you really wanted
Our Plant Tags Hold the Secrets to Success
Choosing the right plants for your garden can seem like a daunting task but we’re here to help. Our horticulturists have spent a considerable amount of time researching and writing our beautiful, American Beauties plant tags to help you be successful. First of all, when you see an American Beauties branded pot at your garden center you can be confident that the plant is native to your area and a responsible choice.
When you look at our tag you’ll find information about the plants natural habitat. That will give you a clue to how it will work in your backyard. For instance if the plant is naturally founded and moist, shade and you have full sun, it’s not the plant for you. The “Features” section gives you an overview or plant description so you’ll know what to expect. While the “Benefits” section talks about the plants strong suits and how the plant will benefit wildlife.
A Special Note About Exposure
Full sun: Prefers six or more hours of direct sunshine a day
Partial shade: Thrives in three to six hours of daily sunshine
Shade: Generally does well with less than three hours of sun per day. Having said that even shade loving plants will struggle in extremely deep shade.
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Best Plants for Bees - Double sided printout for download
Best Plants for Butterflies - Double sided printout for download