Side by side
Hydrangea or climbing hydrangea? How to tell them apart
Hydrangea macrophylla · Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris
How to tell them apart – hydrangea: a shrub, without aerial roots; climbing hydrangea: deciduous climber with aerial roots, round, toothed leaves and large, flat, white flower heads in June.
How do you recognise them?
- Hydrangea
- Shrub with large, glossy, toothed leaves and big rounded or flat flower heads in summer.
- Compared with climbing hydrangea: a shrub, without aerial roots.
- Climbing hydrangea
- Deciduous climber with aerial roots, round, toothed leaves and large, flat, white flower heads in June.
| Hydrangea | Climbing hydrangea | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Opposite, oval, 10–20 cm, coarsely toothed and glossy. | Opposite, 5–10 cm, round to oval with a heart-shaped base, finely toothed and glossy; yellow autumn colour. |
| Flowering | Large heads in pink, blue or white, June–September: blue on acid soil, pink on chalky soil (June–September). | Flat heads (15–25 cm) with small flowers in the centre and large white outer flowers, June–July; fragrant (June–July). |
| Fruit | Small capsules. | Small capsules; the dry flower heads hang on through winter. |
| Bark | Thick, light brown stems. | Reddish-brown stems with short aerial roots; old stems with peeling bark. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 1–2 m | Climber, climbs to 10–15 m |
| Site | Partial shade, any garden soil, moist to wet | Partial shade or shade, any garden soil, moist to wet |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Little | Yes, for bees and birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | March–April | July–August |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Choose what suits your soil, your light and the space you have: see the growing conditions in the table.
Read on
- Plant profile: Hydrangea
- Plant profile: Climbing hydrangea
- Hydrangea: when and how to prune
- Climbing hydrangea: when and how to prune
- Identification key: the question that separates them
Also looks like
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.