Climbing hydrangea

* Common name: Climbing hydrangea

* Botanical name: Hydrangea anomala petiolaris

* What it is: A winter-hardy woody vine with green, heart-shaped leaves. Gets white hydrangea-like flowers in early summer. Climbs by clinging rootlets, so use a trellis if you don’t want it growing directly on a wall.

* Size: Climbs 30 feet or more if never pruned.

* Where to use: Excellent dense vine for shade and part shade, especially for adding life to a bare east- or north-facing wall. Also good for a shady pergola or for hiding spouts and radon pipes in shady spots.

* Care: Keep damp the first season until roots establish, then needs water only in a drought. No fertilizer needed. Cut back and thin out as needed in March before new growth begins and any time in season if it’s growing or clinging where you don’t want. Growth is usually slow first three years, then takes off.

* Great partner: Nice backdrop to fothergilla or cut-leaf Japanese maple.