The climbing hydrangeas are among the most extraordinary members of this genus. The toughest and most closely related to the shrubby hydrangeas we grow is Hydrangea anomala petiolaris. It is deciduous, rather cold hardy and very early blooming. Many of the other climbing Hydrangeas are evergreen, cold-tender (useful in zones 7 to 10) and later to bloom. Most take a few years under good growing conditions to begin blooming well, but the wait is well worth it.
Deciduous relatives of the climbing hydrangeas include the very elegant and striking Schizophragmas. Those who see them in full bloom never forget them, and will seek them out for their gardens. Rosea and Moonlight both bring beautiful foliage, burnished copper to deep burgundy, and milky white staining respectively. The Schizophragmas hang their white flowers in great scoop-shaped panicles full of broad tear-shaped petals.
The many evergreen Hydrangeas provide a wealth of possibilities to gardeners in milder climates. Like the Ivies, these climbers produce two sorts of growth; vining stems that make rootlets along their length to attach to tree bark (or any solid surface), and branching, shrubby stems that result in flowers and fruit. Many of these Hydrangeas will grow their shrubby stems from an early aging, allowing us to use them as free standing shrubs, rather than as climbers. Hydrangea seemanii, a very vigorous climber from Mexico, is particularly striking when grown this way.
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