Hydrangea arborescens – Smooth Hydrangea

Unlike the commonly available cultivar ‘Annabelle’ in which almost all flowers are sterile, this “straight species” produces mostly fertile flowers that provide abundant nectar and pollen for butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects. The few sterile flowers around the outside of the flower cluster are designed to attract pollinators to the feast. Blooms on current year’s growth allowing it to bloom year after year, even after severe pruning or extremely cold winters.