Hydrangea petiolaris
This tall, handsome Korean native distinguishes itself from the shrubby rank and file with its vertical habit; scrambling energetically up walls, fences and pergolas, then producing flowers in a towering cascade. It’s a particularly useful subject for an urban garden, taking advantage of vertical space even in the most challenging spot. While it’s visually less dominant and dense than ivy, the twining stems similarly create valuable habitat for wildlife; places for birds to nest and nooks in which beneficial insects can overwinter. While it prefers a bit of sun, it’s tolerant of shade and will eventually cover even deeply overshadowed walls. The stems anchor themselves to their support by means of self-clinging aerial roots.
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