Native to Formosa, central and south China, Hydrangea glaucescens is usually found at high elevations. It is a vigorous, large deciduous shrub climbing by aerial roots over rocks or trees. This vine requires plenty of space and is best grown against a large tree or wall. The soil should be moist but well-drained with plenty of added organic matter.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in. | Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Cordate; Cuneate; Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Denticulate; Entire; Serrate; Sinuate
Leaf feel
Smooth; Velvety
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are variable in size, shape, serration of the margin, and pubescence of the leaves. The light green leaves, darker above than below, may range in shape from ovate to broadly elliptical. Leaf size varies from 2.5 to 8 inches long, and from 2 to 5 inches wide. The margin may be entire, minutely denticulate, or sinuate-dentate. The leaf undersurface varies from smooth to finely haired.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; White
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Wheel
Flower detail
Produces 10-12" white flower clusters similar to a lacecap hydrangea. Sterile flowers are yellow-white, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate, or broadly elliptic. Fertile flowers with calyx tube inversely conical, 1.5-2 × 1-1.5 mm, base subacute; teeth triangular, ca. 0.5 mm.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The capsule is bell-shaped to inversely conical. Seeds are brown, compressed, 3-4 mm including wings;
Bark color
Dark Gray
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South China to Indo-China
Distribution
Found in China in dense to sparse forests in valleys or on mountain slopes or summits