Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle

A naturally occurring sport of the sevenbark hydrangea found near the town of Anna, Ohio, Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle is a medium-sized, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with a rounded shape, with a very long period of interest. Huge mophead blooms, up to 1’/30cm across open greenish-white from July, turning creamy-white, then fading to lime green, then brownish green and finally to a lovely beige in winter – one of the best flower-heads to catch frost and low light in winter. Typical hydrangea leaves in a distinctive lead-green appear rather later than most hydrangeas’; these colour reddish in autumn before falling. Do not overfeed, to keep the flower-heads from drooping. Hydrangea Annabelle holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any reasonably well drained soil, moist, acid–neutral and fertile preferred
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of Interest: Flowers in Summer & Autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m) Spread: 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m)