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Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

Found in forests, especially around rock outcrops and along streambanks. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

58
Strong

Native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 94%

Height
3–5 feet
Spread
3–5 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist

Space about 4 ft apart from its recorded spread, about 6 per 100 sq ft. Enter your bed size for a count

Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
Spring and summer

Recorded in 30 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 3

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

Cliffs, ledges and rocky summits

Cliffs, ledges, rock outcrops, talus and rocky summits where the source does not name the rock. A named rock files the place under its own glade or outcrop type instead.

Streams, rivers and their banks

Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 117 animals.

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

9CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · 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
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
Beetles 4
  • Euderces picipes
  • Mordellistena ornata
  • Mordellistena pubescens
  • Typocerus velutinus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Flies 6
  • Archytas analis
  • Eristalis tenax
  • Graphomyia americana
  • Musca domestica
  • Sphaerophoria cylindrica
  • Syrphus americanus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Adult butterflies / moths 1
  • Harrisina americana

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

No records yet · Ants · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Hydrangeaceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–9b
Soil pH
Acidic to neutral
Flower color
Cream, green, pink or white

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

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Wild Hydrangea

Conservation status

West Virginia rankS5
Global rankG5
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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How to check your spot

Sources