Hydrangea arborescens Hills of Snow

Hydrangea arborescens 'Hills of Snow' is a variety close to the botanical species Hydrangea arborescens from which it originates. It is of medium size with a rapid growth rate. It is a natural-looking bush, which will be perfectly at home in an English cottage garden, or to create a romantic scene. Its medium-sized, slightly irregular, white inflorescences are relatively flat, far from the somewhat sophisticated big flower-balls of Hydrangea macrophylla. They last all summer, in sunny or semi-shaded situations. It is easy to grow and can grow in most soils, even if they are not acidic. It is a hardy bush.

Hydrangea arborescens, or Virginia hydrangea, belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family, which includes deutzia and philadelphus. This botanical species native to the Southeast USA is less demanding in terms of shade and soil than its Asian counterparts. It accepts full sun and does not require ericaceous soil, being satisfied with ordinary soil. Through hybridisation, it has created many varieties that prove to be excellent garden bushes, like the famous 'Annabelle', obtained in the U.S.A.

'Hills of Snow' is particularly interesting for its prolonged flowering, which is white, slightly fragrant, and decorative throughout summer. Its medium-sized inflorescences, with somewhat irregular contours, are made up of many narrow fertile flowers with a few sterile florets. It's the opposite of what is usually sought in Hydrangea macrophylla, the archetype of the usual image of a hydrangea. This 'Hills of Snow' variety forms a regular ball of about 1.6m (5ft) in all directions, with rapid growth. Its leaves are a tender green, quite large and numerous. Very hardy (-20°C (-4°F) and less). Its main requirement is soil that remains a little moist during the growing season. It needs to be pruned in late winter. Pruning does not harm flowering, as the flowers bloom on the current year's shoots.

If you like natural-looking and easy-to-grow hydrangeas in any good garden soil, 'Hills of Snow' is for you! It will match all spontaneous-looking plants that you can group in a mass, or on the edge of large trees. By playing on flowering times, you can create a decorative scene in all seasons. For winter, Chimonanthus praecox, with its extremely fragrant pale-yellow bells blooming before the leaves, will open the ball. It can be accompanied by Hamamelis intermedia 'Ruby Glow', with red thread-like flowers and foliage with a stunning autumn colour. In April-May, the white flowering of Amelanchier spicata will transition with that of our hydrangea, while remaining in a register of wild-looking plants. Because of its size, place the amelanchier in the background of 'Hills of Snow'. A Lavatera 'Burgundy Wine', with simple purple pink flowers, will create a happy colour contrast throughout the summer with this hydrangea.