• Photo of Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 (Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316s)

Plant Profile: Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316

Names

Hortensia, Invincibelle™ Hydrangea, Invincibelle™ Spirit II Mountain Hydrangea, Mountain Hydrangea, Sevenbark, Smooth Hydrangea, Wild Hydrangea

  • Photo of Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 (Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316s)

Phonetic Spelling:hy-DRAN-jee-uh ar-bor-RES-senz

Genus:Hydrangea

Species:arborescens

Family:Hydrangeaceae

The Invincibelle™ Spirit II Mountain Hydrangea represents an enhancement over its predecessor, the original Invincibelle™ Spirit. This variety features deeper green leaves, sturdier stems, and larger blooms that exhibit a more vibrant pink hue, which transitions to an appealing green as the flowers mature. It serves as an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements. While the plant may experience dieback during particularly harsh winters and has a slow growth rate, it typically begins to flourish from mid-summer until frost, reaching its full potential after two to three years in the ground. For optimal flower color and stem strength, it requires at least four hours of sunlight daily. In cooler climates, it can thrive in full sun, but in hotter regions, providing afternoon shade and ensuring consistent moisture is advisable. To protect its shallow roots and maintain summer moisture, a layer of shredded bark mulch is beneficial. Care should be taken to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.

Regarding pests and diseases, this hydrangea does not face significant issues, although it can be vulnerable to bud blight, bacterial wilt, leaf spots, mold, rust, and powdery mildew, similar to other hydrangea varieties. Additionally, it may encounter problems with aphids, mites, scale, and nematodes.

Please note that propagating patented plant material is illegal.

For further details on Hydrangea arborescens, please refer to additional resources.

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Feature Summary

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Image Gallery

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Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Feature Summary

Attributes
The wild hydrangea flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insects. Songbirds eat the seeds. It is the host plant of the caterpillars of the Hydrangea Sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor) which feed on the leaves.
Perennial
Woody
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Colorful
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Attractive Flowers
Easy to Grow
Wildlife Larval Host
low flammability
Fruit
Dehiscent seed capsules ripen in October-November.
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
Flowers
Inflorescences are large, rich pink mop heads, color not influenced by soil pH which reach around 5.5" wide and have both fertile and sterile florets.
Good Cut
Showy
Long Bloom Season
Good Dried
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
Ovate to elliptic dark green leaves (3-8” long) with pale green undersides. The leaves turn yellow in fall. The lower leaf surface is smooth or with inconspicuous fine hairs.
Elliptical
Ovate
Serrate
Dentate
> 6 inches
3-6 inches
Bark
Brown and finely shredded, peels off in thin layers with different colors.
Light Gray
Light Brown
Shredding
Peeling
Poisonous to Humans
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and sweating. Cyanide intoxication is rare - usually produces more of a gastrointestinal disturbance.
Hydrangin, a cyanogenic glycoside
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Bark
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Poisonous
Multi-stemmed
Rounded
Mounding
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Cottage Garden
Shade Garden
Border
Hedge
Mass Planting
Small groups
Specimen
Rabbits
Erosion
Black Walnut
Walkways
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees
Moths
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Attributes

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Country Or Region Of Origin

US cultivar

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Wildlife Value

The wild hydrangea flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insects. Songbirds eat the seeds. It is the host plant of the caterpillars of the Hydrangea Sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor) which feed on the leaves.

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Fire Risk Rating

extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Fruit

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Fruit Description

Dehiscent seed capsules ripen in October-November.

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Flowers

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Flower Description

Inflorescences are large, rich pink mop heads, color not influenced by soil pH which reach around 5.5" wide and have both fertile and sterile florets.

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Leaves

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Description

Ovate to elliptic dark green leaves (3-8” long) with pale green undersides. The leaves turn yellow in fall. The lower leaf surface is smooth or with inconspicuous fine hairs.

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Bark

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Bark Description

Brown and finely shredded, peels off in thin layers with different colors.

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Bark Color

grass
Light Brown
grass
Light Gray

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Surface/Attachment

Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Poisonous to Humans

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Poison Symptoms

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and sweating. Cyanide intoxication is rare - usually produces more of a gastrointestinal disturbance.

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Poison Toxic Principle

Hydrangin, a cyanogenic glycoside

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Whole Plant Traits

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Cultural Conditions

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Stem

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316 Landscape

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA2' PP28,316: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy