Hydrangea arborescens subsp. radiata 'Invincibelle Lace' - Smooth Hydrangea cultivar

Hydrangea arborescens subsp. radiata 'Invincibelle Lace' - Smooth Hydrangea cultivarSizes available: #1 (Trade gallon) Basics: zones 3 8, 4 5' x 4 5', part to full sun, lace cap type with reddish purple flowers and reddish stems, flowers in the summer, moist, well drained acidic soils are preferred. Common names: Smooth Hydrangea (Maybe Silverleaf Hydrangea) cultivar Family: Hydrangeaceae Origin Distribution: this is a proven Winners cultivar. Proven Winners says it's an H. arborescens subsp. radiata cultivar, however, the subspecies

Sizes available: #1 (Trade gallon)

Basics: zones 3-8, 4-5' x 4-5', part to full sun, lace cap type with reddish purple flowers and reddish stems, flowers in the summer, moist, well-drained acidic soils are preferred.

Common names: Smooth Hydrangea (Maybe Silverleaf Hydrangea) cultivar

Family: Hydrangeaceae

Origin/Distribution: this is a proven Winners cultivar. Proven Winners says it's an H. arborescens subsp. radiata cultivar, however, the subspecies "radiata" is now classified as a species. ' Invincible Lace' is probably a Silverleaf Hydrangea cultivar. Silverleaf Hydrangea is usually found in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains above 2000 feet. It has a very narrow range, but is not uncommon. Smooth Hydrangea has a much wider range. It is found in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as parts of the eastern and central United States right down into Florida, however, populations existing in New England are considered introduced. 

Habitat: moist, deciduous forest, shaded slopes, stream edges, ravines, base of slope or bluff, forest edge, shaded roadside

More: This Hydrangea is long-blooming and blooms on new wood. It makes a good cut flower and can grow as well in a container as in a part sun border. I will be interested to see just how tough this shrub is and how much sun it requires to flower well. I also think it might be more drought tolerant than reported. It is part of my cut foliage and flower ramp-up/Multiflora Rose replacement program. The root and bark of the straight species, Hydrangea arborescens, have been used as medicine, but the plant also has potential toxicity so proceed with caution.

Source: Spring Meadow

Image credit: Proven Winners via Spring Meadow