Quercus

Ashy Hydrangea

Hydrangea cinerea

Native to Kentucky (estimated)

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

10CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Hydrangea

  • Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
  • Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Darapsa versicolorHydrangea Sphinx
  • Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
  • Gandaritis atricolorataDark-Banded Geometer
  • Herpetogramma bipunctalisSouthern Beet Webworm, Two-Spotted Herpetogramma
  • Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
  • Olethreutes ferriferanaHydrangea Leaftier
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Aspilanta hydrangaeella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
17BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Hydrangea

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Hydrangeaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4a–9b
Soil pH
Neutral to alkaline
Flower color
White

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Ashy Hydrangea; Hydrangea arborescens ssp. discolor

Conservation status

Kentucky rankSNA
Global rankG5
KY statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources