Shrub
Hydrangea 'Annabelle'
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
A rounded deciduous shrub with huge white flowerheads in summer. It performs best in reliably moist soil and needs enough room and stem support when the heavy blooms are soaked by rain.
- Size
- 1.5–2.5 m high · 1.5–2.5 m wide
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Water
- High
- Winter
- Very hardy
- Seasonal form
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- Choose a site with soil that stays reliably moist; full sun is suitable only where the roots will not dry out.
- Allow for a broad shrub and avoid a narrow path where rain-heavy flowerheads could collapse into the way.
Why choose it
- Produces exceptionally large, bright white flowerheads in summer.
- Creates a strong flowering mass in informal borders, shaded courtyards and woodland-style planting.
Care
- Water deeply in dry weather and mulch the root area to reduce moisture loss.
- Prune in late winter or early spring; a hard annual cut encourages strong new stems and very large flowerheads.
- Support or loosely tie stems in exposed positions if the flowerheads regularly bend after rain.
Good to know
- The plant can irritate sensitive skin and is harmful to pets if eaten; wear gloves and keep prunings out of reach.