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Silverleaf

Hydrangea radiata (hy-DRAN-jee-ah ray-dee-AH-tah)

Family: Hydrangeaceae Native Shrub (3-15 ft)

Silverleaf Hydrangea is a native deciduous shrub in the hydrangea family. It is found in a relatively small area near the junction of western North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia in r ocky forests and rock outcrops, often common and conspicuous on road banks. The showy white sterile flowers surround the fertile smaller florets and attract many pollinators May through July. It grows as a 3 to 6 feet tall, open shrub with a rounded crown and many unbranched stems with shreddy bark. The silvery underleaves are showy as the wind blows. Blooms occur on new wood so plants can be pruned close to the ground in late winter to rejuvenate. This plant prefers part shade, in medium-moisture, organic, well-drained, acid soil conditions. Use in the woodland garden in partial to full shade. The more sun this plant receives, the more water it will require. Use in a massed or grouped shrub border or in the woodland native garden.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 46 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
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.

Often confused with Hydrangea cinerea

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Native Plant; Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-8 inch long green leaves with toothed edges and white/silver underside of its leaves,
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Sterile white flowers surround fertile florets and bloom from May to July. Clusters are 3-6 inches wide.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Dry, light brown, ribbed, dehiscent seed capsules appearing in early fall, October-November.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
Shreddy bark
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and southeastern U.S.A.
Wildlife value
This plant attracts birds, butterflies, other pollinators, and small mammals.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#deciduous shrub #silver leaves #deciduous #NC native #native shrub #food source herbage #food source hard mast fruit #food source nectar #food source pollen #mammals #food source fall #Audubon #white flowers #bird friendly #butterfly friendly #pollinator plant #woodland
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Black Walnut

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.