Ashy hydrangea is a native deciduous shrub in the hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae) family found in rocky forests, along riparian areas and in shaded ravines. In North Carolina, it is found in the southwestern region making it fairly rare in the wild. The common name ashy hydrangea comes from the abundance of gray hairs found on the undersides of the leaves. Plant it in full sun to partial or dappled shade in moist to occasionally dry, well-drained soils. This small shrub will grow to a mature height of 6 feet and width of 3 feet. Once established, this shrub is tolerant of drought and some heat. However, in hotter summer climates, the plant will likely require supplemental water to help it tolerate sun without being damaged. Unlike other hydrangeas, the color of the flower remains white regardless of the pH of the soil in which it is planted. The Cherokee have used infusions of the bark and roots as emetics and later by the early settlers for bladder and kidney stones. Can be cultivated for ornamental use. In its native habitat, it can be found along roadsides and under forests. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Few serious problems.
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | 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
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Opposite large simple green ovate to elliptic-ovate with a narrow tip. Leaves have a toothed margins, gray hairs on the undersides, and pinnate venation.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Cross
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Showy white clusters with two types of flowers appear on branch tips. Tiny fertile ones in the center surrounded by an outer ring of flowers with 4 white sepals in a cross pattern reaching 1/2-1 inch across. The petaled flowers serve to attract pollinators to the center fertile flowers. Flowers appear from late spring to late summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Dry capsule fruits appear in May and June are dehiscent (split open) when ripe.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Smooth thin bark in brown to orange-red. Three bud scales overlap in a shingle pattern. Twigs are sparsely hairy.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and southeastern U.S.A.
Distribution
AR , GA , IL , IN , KY , MA , NC , OK , SC , TN , WV
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
Members of the Cherokee Nation used this plant medically for liver and gynecological problems as well as to either induce (emetic) or stop vomiting (antiemetic) and nausea.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Riparian
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Native Garden
Garden tags
#NC native #native shrub #heat tolerant #flowers late spring #flowers early summer #deciduous shrub #small shrub #flowers mid-summer #drought tolerant #white flowers #flowers late summer #hairy leaves