Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle': The Original Cloud of Summer White

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' is a classic smooth hydrangea, loved for its big, rounded clusters of pure white sterile blooms that create a clean, luminous look in early summer. The flower heads are symmetrical and impressive, reaching 8–12” across, and they sit beautifully above dark green foliage. Blooming from June to July, it brings a fresh, calming brightness to the garden and pairs easily with almost any colour scheme.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 3–5’
• Spread: 4–6’
• Flower Colour: White
• Flowering Period: June to July
• Foliage: Dark green
• Sunlight Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

Uses and Benefits: A dependable choice for mixed borders, foundation plantings, and woodland-edge gardens where you want a strong summer highlight. Its rounded habit and generous bloom size make it especially effective in drifts, where the white flower heads read like soft garden lanterns. It also performs well as a cut flower, both fresh and dried, and brings a classic, cottage-garden feel to contemporary landscapes.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun to part shade and water regularly during the first season to establish. After that, provide deep watering during extended heat for best bloom size and overall vigour. Prune in late winter or early spring to refresh the plant and encourage strong new stems for flowering. Mulch helps conserve moisture and keeps roots cooler through summer. A spring top-dressing of compost supports healthy growth and reliable flowering.

History: Hydrangea arborescens is a North American native species, and 'Annabelle' became one of the most widely planted selections thanks to its unusually large, rounded white flower clusters and its consistent summer performance in a wide range of garden settings.

Final Thoughts: When you want timeless, easy summer white with real presence, 'Annabelle' delivers a generous bloom show and a calm, classic beauty that never goes out of style.