Leaf
Salicyna, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Climbing hydrangea
Hydrangea petiolaris Siebold & Zucc.
Family: Hydrangeaceae
8 to 15 m when clinging to a wall or tree
Gardens throughout France, planted against a wall or tree trunk, including in shade where few other climbers flower
Flowering: June - July
Part shade
Shade
Very hardy, to -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
It is one of the only climbers to cling on by itself with aerial roots like ivy, while producing true hydrangea flowers.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, broad, oval, toothed, bright glossy green
🌸 Flowers
Flat white corymbs, edged with large decorative sterile flowers surrounding small fertile central flowers, like bed hydrangeas
🍎 Fruits
Small brown capsules, barely visible
🪵 Bark
Reddish-brown stems clinging directly to the support by numerous aerial roots, no staking needed
🗺️ Distribution
Native to Japan, widely planted in gardens throughout France
🐝 Value for pollinators
Nectar-bearing fertile flowers visited by many insects in summer
✂️ Horticultural uses
One of the few climbers to flower well in shade or partial shade, planted at the foot of a north-facing wall or to clothe an old tree trunk
⚠️ Possible toxicity
All parts mildly toxic if eaten (cyanogenic compounds), like other hydrangeas, causing digestive upset.
🌿 Other Hydrangeaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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