Hydrangea arborescens Species Complex Cultivars A–M

'Abetwo'

Mophead, with white sterile flowers ageing green; claimed to be taller (to 1.25 m) than ‘Annabelle’, and with larger inflorescences, but the major difference is stouter stems able to support the heavy heads, an advantage both in the garden and in nursery pots – Maurice Foster (2023) describes it as ‘unfloppable’. A top performer in the Mt Cuba trial, it responded particularly well to cutting back to 15–20 cm in March, producing even larger heads. A somewhat shady site preserves the green of the ageing inflorescences for longer. An ‘Annabelle’ seedling selected 2004 at Spring Meadow Nursery, MI; the patent application states that this was open pollinated seed, but breeder Tim Wood later made it clear that the male parent was ‘Dardom’ (Wood 2010). Protected by US Plant Patent 20,571. (Hoadley 2021; Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

Hydrangea arborescens 'Abetwo' standing up well in the Mt Cuba Center trial (14 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Abetwo' (STRONG ANNABELLE / INCREDIBALL®): a fine, stronger-stemmed seedling of 'Annabelle' (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware – 28 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Abetwo' has stouter stems than 'Annabelle', able to hold the heavy heads upright late into the season (RHS Garden Wisley, UK – 20 October 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Abetwo': inflorescences ageing greenish white (RHS Garden Wisley, UK – 20 October 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Annabelle'

Mophead, with white sterile flowers ageing green; inflorescences large (to 30 cm across on plants cut back in early spring), rounded and symmetrical; stems often too weak to hold the heads upright, hence this is a floppy plant; capable of especially vigorous spread by suckering. One of two early mophead cultivars (along with ‘Grandiflora’), it was dug from the wild in Union Co., Illinois in 1910 by Harriet Kirkpatrick and shared among fellow gardeners in Anna, IL, slowly spreading through the State’s gardens. Unlike ‘Grandiflora’, it was not commercialized or widely distributed until Joe McDaniel (University of Illinois) noticed it in an Urbana garden in 1960, traced its origin, named it for the ‘belles’ of Anna, and introduced it to wider horticulture. Now a garden classic across the world, it is the mophead cultivar to beat, and a progenitor of many newer cultivars. Its unprotected commercial status probably guarantees it a long future in the nursery trade. (Dirr 2004, 2021; Foster 2023; Pankau 2020).

The huge mophead inflorescences of Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' – along with its unprotected status – continue to ensure its popularity, despite the plant's floppy habit. (Exbury, Hampshire, UK; 10 August 2012) Image John Anderson.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' is notoriously floppy in flower; the stems are just not strong enough for the heavy heads, especially on hard-pruned plants (Totnes, Devon, UK – 10 July 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' has symmetrical, rounded, white mophead inflorescences (Totnes, Devon, UK – 10 July 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Magdalen College, Oxford, UK). Image John Grimshaw.

Since the 1960s Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' has become a garden classic, the yardstick against which H. arborescens cultivars are measured (Magdalen College, Oxford, UK). Image John Grimshaw.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Magdalen College, Oxford, UK). Image John Grimshaw.

'Bounty'

There has been some confusion around this name for a white mophead. As grown in the Mt Cuba trial, where it was highly rated, it stood out for its distinctive inflorescences, not rounded in outline like ‘Annabelle’ and many others, but having ‘multi-layered flower heads that are evocative of cauliflower or cumulus clouds’, resulting in a ‘fine, lacy appearance’; it had only minor flopping issues in shade (Hoadley 2021). However, some nursery stocks may have become confused and are ‘Annabelle’ or a similar seedling (Dirr 2004; Foster 2023); a trawl of internet images supports this (pers. obs. 2024). Origin probably American, before 1999.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Bounty' impressed at the Mt Cuba Center trial (28 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Bounty' has distinctively shaped inflorescences (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware – 21 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Bounty' generally supports its heads well (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware – 14 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

'Dardom'

Lacecap form, with domed, white inflorescences on sturdy stems to 1.7 m; sterile flowers fewer than in ‘Haas’ Halo’ for example. A top performer in the Mt. Cuba Center trial; perhaps not as showy as ‘Haas’ Halo’, it received more insect visits than any other cultivar. Leaves larger than typical, deep green above, slightly pubescent and greyish beneath, suggesting some hybridity with H. cinerea or H. radiata. Selected 1999 by Wout Kromhout from a batch of open pollinated seedlings from Hemelrijk, the de Belder garden in Essen, Belgium. Protected by US Plant Patent 14,168 and European Plant Breeders’ Rights. (Hoadley 2021; Dirr 2004; Google Patents 2023; Wood 2010)

Hydrangea 'Dardom' (WHITE DOME) at Mt Cuba Center, Delaware (21 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea 'Dardom' (WHITE DOME) has domed white inflorescences, particularly attractive to insects (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware – 28 June 2021). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea 'Dardom' (WHITE DOME) has sturdy, erect stems (Morton Arboretum, Illinois). Image Jeff Franklin, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Hydrangea 'Dardom' (WHITE DOME) is a strong-stemmed white lacecap form of H. arborescens, perhaps with some input from H. cinerea or H. radiata (Gresgarth Hall, Lancashire, UK – 8 July 2023). Image John Grimshaw.

'Eco Pink Puff'

Fertile flowers light pink, sterile flowers absent, a very different (if restrained) garden ‘look’. In the Mt Cuba trial it grew weakly for several years, but proved robust once finally established. A wild find before 1990 by Don Jacobs, Eco Gardens, GA, USA; along with ‘Wesser Falls’ it has contributed genes to the modern pink mopheaded H. arborescens cultivars (Mt. Cuba Center 2021; Dirr 2004; Association Shamrock 2022)

Hydrangea arborescens 'Eco Pink Puff' has light pink flowers, all fertile (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware; 28 June 2021). Image Mt Cuba Center.

In the Mt Cuba Center trial Hydrangea arborescens 'Eco Pink Puff' proved slow to establish but ultimately robust (21 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

'Emerald Lace'

Leaves incised, sometimes deeply; white lacecap inflorescences. A wild find in Illinois before 1990 by Stan Tyson; the two synonyms above are very often used, but there is no real disagreement that the three represent a single cultivar. Plants accessed under all three names stood out in the Mt. Cuba Center trial for receiving far fewer insect visits than other lacecaps, fewer even than most mopheads, perhaps reflecting some difference in nectar quantity or composition. They also proved intolerant of full sun, showing leaf scorching and early defoliation even in shade. (Mt. Cuba Center 2021; Dirr 2004; Association Shamrock 2022)

Hydrangea arborescens 'Emerald Lace' in early flower at RHS Garden Wisley, UK (2 July 2024. Image Jack Aldridge.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Emerald Lace' seems less attractive to insects than other lacecap forms. (De Kleine Boerderij Merksplas, Belgium; 17 July 2020). Image Koen Camelbeke (Arboretum Wespelaar).

Cut-leaved Hydrangea arborescens 'Emerald Lace' was a wild find in Illinois (De Kleine Boerderij Merksplas, Belgium; 17 July 2020). Image Koen Camelbeke (Arboretum Wespelaar).

Cut-leaved Hydrangea arborescens 'Emerald Lace' is undoubtedly a curiosity, but its leaves are easily damaged by hot sun (Darley Park, Derby, UK – 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

After flowering Hydrangea arborescens 'Emerald Lace' is a rather scruffy looking plant (Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, USA, 31 October 2025). Image John Grimshaw.

'Golden Annabelle'

Leaves with irregular yellow-green margin; mophead form with white flowers; strong stems. Selected 2016 by Dutch nurseryman Jan Bos. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights. The use of “Annabelle” in the name is presumably to help place this cultivar in the market rather than to identify it as a sport. (Plantipp 2024, 2021; Dirr 2021; Association Shamrock 2022)

'Grandiflora'

Mophead form, sterile flowers white; inflorescence less rounded and regular than ‘Annabelle’, sometimes a little larger and earlier; stems weak, resulting in a floppy plant in flower; vigorously spreading by suckers, capable of making a patch 3 m across given time. A wild find in Ohio in the late 19th century, distributed as ‘Hills of Snow’ by Burpee in North America, it spread quickly in commerce, reaching Britain by 1907. It was the dominant H. arborescens cultivar in gardens until ‘Annabelle’ became widely available in the 1960s (Mt. Cuba Center 2021; Foster 2023; Bean 1981). The cultivar name ‘Grandiflora’ seems to have evolved from Rehder’s f. grandiflora (Rehder 1907, 1908).
might Hills of Snow be the correct name? If so should we reinstate it?

Like 'Annabelle', Hydrangea arborescens 'Grandiflora' is a floppy thing, its stems too weak for the heavy inflorescences (White House Farm, Kent, UK – 12 July 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Mopheaded Hydrangea arborescens 'Grandiflora' was a wild find in Ohio, the most popular cultivar until superseded by 'Annabelle' with its more symmetrical, rounded heads (Darley Park, Derby, UK – 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Gryhar1406'

Mophead form; inflorescences large, light pink; claimed as compact (height 80–100 cm) with strong stems. From a controlled cross with ‘Annabelle’ as the pollen parent, selected 2014 by Guido Rouwette, The Netherlands. Introduced 2019 in Europe, unreleased to date in North America. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent 31,121. (Google Patents 2024; Dirr 2021)

'Gryhar1407'

Mophead form; inflorescences large, pink (a stronger colour than ‘Gryhar1406’); strong stems and slightly bronze-tinted leaves claimed. From a controlled cross with ‘Annabelle’ as the pollen parent, selcted 2014 by Guido Rouwette, the Netherlands. Introduced 2019 in Europe, unreleased to date in North America. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent 31,016. (Google Patents 2024; Dirr 2021)

'Haas' Halo'

Lacecap form with a numerous large, white sterile flowers; inflorescences very large (potentially more than 30 cm across if cut back hard in spring, 15 cm a realistic expectation); stems strong. Height over 2 m (1.2 m when cut back hard in spring) in the Mt Cuba trial, where it was praised to the skies in reports. Selected 2008 by Pennsylvania horticulturalist Rick Ray, from the garden of Jean Haas; protected by US Plant Patent 24,783. (Hoadley 2021; Google Patents 2024; Dirr 2021)

Hydrangea arborescens 'Haas' Halo' was a stand-out cultivar in the Mt Cuba Center trial (16 June 2021). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Haas' Halo' has exceptionally large inflorescences (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware – 29 June 2021). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Haas' Halo' is a taller cultivar with strong stems (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware – 28 June 2021). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Haas' Halo' in late autumn (Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, USA, 31 October 2025). Image John Grimshaw.

'Hayes Starburst'

Mophead form; sterile flowers double, white from lime green buds, ageing off-white; fertile flowers absent. A relatively compact plant, not much more than 1 m high, but even so the heavy heads may flop over. A seedling from the Alabama garden of Hayes Jackson, before 2000; protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights. (Mt. Cuba Center 2021; Dirr 2004; Association Shamrock 2022).

Hydrangea arborescens 'Hayes Starburst' at White House Farm, Kent, UK. 12 August 2023. Image Jack Aldridge.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Hayes Starburst' in the Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, UK (18 July 2017). Image John Anderson.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Hayes Starburst' is a unique curiosity, a double flowered mophead (private garden, Ayrshire, UK – 24 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Hayes Starburst', proving low growing and rather floppy (private garden, Ayrshire, UK – 24 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Hayes Starburst' forming a tight bush at the Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, UK, 12 July 2026. Image John Grimshaw.

'Kolpinbel'

Rather loose mophead form with significant numbers of fertile flowers visible; sterile flowers light pink. Strong stems claimed by the breeder (the not impartial Michael Dirr (2021) strongly disagrees). Maurice Foster (2023) seems better pleased by it as a garden plant, finding it upright, rather smaller in stature and flower than most, and producing further late flowers rather freely. From the breeding program of Peter Kolster, the Netherlands, selected 2012; protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights and US Plant Patent 29,579. (Google Patents 2024)

Hydrangea arborescens 'Kolpinbel' (MAGICAL® PINKERBELL) is proving to be one of the more effective pink-flowered cultivars at RHS Garden Wisley, UK (2 July 2024). Image Jack Aldridge.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Kolpinbel' (MAGICAL® PINKERBELL) has loose mophead inflorescences in light pink (nursery stock at Kolster BV, the Netherlands). Image Marco ten Hoope, Kolster BV.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Kolpinbel' (MAGICAL® PINKERBELL) proving upright and self-supporting for the breeder, Kolster BV, the Netherlands. Image Marco ten Hoope, Kolster BV.

'Mary Nell'

More-or-less lacecap form, with many large sterile flowers making a broader ring around the inflorescence than in ‘Haas’ Halo’ which has similar stature and vigour. Praised by both Michael Dirr and the Mt. Cuba Center trial as highly ornamental; at Mt Cuba it proved floppy if cut back hard in spring. Selected before 1990 by Joe McDaniel (University of Illinois) and named for his wife, but little distributed; commercially available in North America. (Hoadley 2021; Dirr 2021; Association Shamrock 2022)

Vigorous Hydrangea arborescens 'Mary Nell' in the Mt Cuba Center trial (21 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Mary Nell', a highly ornamental but little-grown lacecap form (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware – 21 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Mary Nell' is not unlike 'Haas' Halo', but has a broader ring of sterile flowers (Mt Cuba Center, Delaware – 28 June 2019). Image Mt Cuba Center.