Good old Southern charm, the Snowhill Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Grandiflora’) – sometimes called ‘Hills-of-Snow Hydrangea’ is a lovely old plant that brings a shot of winter crispness to warm summer days. Quilted toothy foliage and good size make for an all-round incredible flowering ornamental.
Smooth Hydrangeas like Snowhill will cover themselves with large creamy-white snowball blooms all summer long. The blooms are perfect cut flowers for centerpieces and are some of the best flowers to dry and save for winter decorating. Just look up ‘dried Hydrangea decorations for Christmas trees’ to see what a hot trend it is right now!
Not just fantastic indoors, those big mophead blossoms start white and stay white all growing season until fall. Pollinators adore these blossoms and birds will like hiding in the dense branching and raising their young. These are easy-to-care-for varieties of Hydrangea that aren’t subject to the pH of your soil.
Planting and Application:
One of the classic garden plants of the south, this native shrub has graced garden parties, cotillions and firefly-lit get-togethers for generations. Let it do the same for your yard! Plant as your main home foundational planting in long rows, or as an accent to your existing foundation plants. Highlight either side of the stairs leading into your home with these big, flouncy flowers!
Growing 4-7 feet in mature height and 3-5 feet in width, you’ll easily make a fast hedge for privacy and screening with a few of these shrubs. Hide an unsightly neighbor or HVAC unit. Easily add privacy and interest around seating areas and screen off your front yard from the street. Snowhill is even a fantastic accent and specimen plant when used as a focal point among garden beds and borders. Anchor a planting or use it as a backdrop to highlight all other blooms growing in front of them. Lovely paired with other Hydrangeas, Roses and Perennials!
- Big Mophead White Blossoms
- Good Sized Dense Shrubs
- Deep Green Foliage All Season
- Great Cut Flowers, Fresh or Dried
- Easy Care Native Species
Tips for Care:
These shrubs are very easy to care for. Plant in full sun for the strongest stems to help support those large flowers, and to increase how many flowers your plant creates! Smooth Hydrangea bushes bloom on new wood, so prune in the late winter or very early in the spring before they begin to grow. Plant in a well-drained and highly organically enriched soil that remains consistently moist. So use a thick layer of mulch for moisture and insulation.
- Full Sun
- Regular Moisture
- Organically Enriched Well-Drained Soil
- Prune in Winter or Early Spring
- Hardy USDA Zones 3-9
Don’t always wish for something that is out of reach. Sometimes you just need to enjoy what is right in front of you!