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Invincibelle Group

Hydrangea arborescens

Family: Hydrangeaceae Unknown Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

The Invincibelle® Group of shrubs are hybrids of the the smooth hydrangea and were developed by Dr. Tom Ranney of North Carolina State University’s Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station. They reliably bloom on new wood and grow 3 to 4 feet tall and wide except for Wee White®. These shrubs will do best in moist well-drained soil high in organic matter. In cooler summer areas, full sun will result in more compact plants with heavier blooms. However, in warmer climates, afternoon shade is recommended. Plants should be mulched 2 to 3 inches deep to retain moisture in summer and to protect shallow roots in winter. They are not pH-dependent for color. This group of hydrangea flowers comes in various colors and blooms with 8 to 12-inch mopheads held on strong stems and most are strong rebloomers, producing gorgeous blossoms from summer into fall. See the list of cultivars available in this group. They can be used as a low hedge or specimen, in a mixed border, or as a foundation planting. They attract bees, moths, songbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, so site them in a cutting, cottage, or pollinator garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: It is susceptible to bud blight, bacterial wilt, leaf spots, mold, rust, and powdery mildew. It may also be troubled by aphids, mites, scale, and nematodes. Ingestion in large quantities of any part of the plant can result in gastrointestinal problems for humans and pets. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Hydrangea arborescens .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 45 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Hydrangea paniculata Puffer Fish® 'NCHP1' Spiraea x Double Play Doozie® 'NCSX2' Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum Steady Eddy® 'NCVP1'

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Opposite, simple, broad egg-shaped to rounded, sharply toothed, dark green leaves (2 to 4 inches long) with pale green undersides.
Flower color
Green; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The mophead flower clusters are 8 to 12 inches across in various colors. Blossoms in summer and again in fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Dehiscent ribbed brown capsules
Stem detail
Stout stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
It is a host plant for the larvae of the Hydrangea sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor). Flowers attract pollinators
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Moths
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Small groups
Garden tags
#cottage garden #deciduous shrub #fall flowers #foundation planting #hedge #long bloom season #pollinator garden #repeat blooms #showy flowers #shrub border #specimen #summer flowers #host plant #nci #pollinator friendly

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.