Climbing Hydrangea is a wonderful vine for the shade! Few vines have as much to offer as the Climbing Hydrangea. It will provide interest in your landscape year 'round: cinnamon-colored, exfoliating bark and dried blooms in winter; fragrant, ivory colored flowers like those of its Lacecap Hydrangea cousins in early summer; lush, shiny green foliage for the remainder of the growing season. The leaves sometimes even turn a beautiful, golden yellow in the fall. Climbing Hydrangea can take a few years to establish, but once they do, they will quickly spread out to cover a large area. They can be easily pruned to control their growth.
This vine is the clinging type--it climbs by means of holdfasts, so a trellis is not necessary unless it is a very smooth surface. Once established, it will quickly scramble up any rough surface including creviced walls and tree trunks or it can even be used as a groundcover. If grown on a support, it must be very strong and substantial as anything less will collapse under the weight of a mature specimen. This is truly a beautiful plant that will be enjoyed for decades.