Japanese Climbing Hydrangea (Schizophragma hydrangeoides)

Japanese Climbing Hydrangea
Schizophragma hydrangeoides

Vine growing up a wall

stunning!!! dare I ask how long it took to get this full and beautiful?

It starts out slow growing and it took a few years to begin blooming but then it grew faster. This whole vine took about 10 years to reach 12' and fill in.

Just lovely seeing it grown.

Thanks for your reply, I think I could wait that long for such a beautiful display :)

Rachel

What is great about this vine is that there seems to be no insect problem, it grows in full shade and part shade so it adds height that would other wise have nothing growing. Here's a picture of the foliage on the cultivar 'Moonlight'.

Is it deciduous? Do you cut it back at all during the year?

Thanks,
Gwendalou

Yes it is deciduous. I guess you can cut it back or prune it to keep it from going where you don't want it to go, but it isn't a fast grower. But it certainly is worth the wait for the flowers and maturity.

I have just discovered this plant and it is waiting to be planted - am trying to figure out it's best location. I would like to put it so it climbs my shed and then come around to the deck. It would be northeast facing, gets quite a bit of sun early morning and once it came around the side of the shed it would be getting east/southeast sun for most of the day. Any comments as to this location?

thanks.

Mine tends to grow best when it gets as little sun as possible. I seen a beautiful one growing up a tree in Conn. a few years ago that just blew me away, growing in full shade from the tree it was climbing. Mine grows with sun only in the morning and high noon in early spring into early summer. This time of the year it gets very little direct sun at all. It does quite well.

You're photos are about 3 years old. How's the vine doing?
I just planted my last fall. It looks happy but as you mentioned, it is a slow grower. It seems to be spreading but on the ground rather than up the ladder I have propped against a tree. How large/tall did your plant grow before blossoms started? Can you even remember? Thanks.

Mine seemed to be blooming the year I planted it. It grew quite well but last year I truly believe the neighbor's round up spray got my plant. About mid August the foliage turned crisp and dropped off. With all the plants I have I really just thought it was too dry and was going dormant. I've since decided it has gone dormant permanently. I will miss this vine.