Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle
Plant profile Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle
I first came across the Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle when we were living in Cheshire.
I was not familiar with it. Thinking it may be a form of Paniculata
I started to do some research and eventually traced it to being the North American Hydrangea (Arborescens Annabelle.)
The one I saw in Cheshire had blooms the size of a football (soccer ball)
This one shown today was planted in the front garden in early April of 2017 which was not long after we arrived here in Fife.
It took hold made a bit of growth and developed a few flower heads. We can get strong winds here, seems to be worse at the front of the house. It soon became clear that Annabelle was struggling in this situation.
Taking a chance in late June of 2017, I lifted the shrub, potted it up and placed it in a very sheltered spot in the courtyard garden where it has settled down and is much happier and looking pretty good this year.
Unlike the macrophilia mophead hydrangea, Arborescens flowers on new growth made in the current season. You can choose to cut it right down to ground level, cut the stems back by half or leave it unpruned, whatever you do, it will flower.
The largest of blooms are achieved by pruning hard to the ground. There, may lie a problem.
Hydrangea Arborescence Annabelle has difficulty supporting those huge flowerheads. The branches just aren’t strong enough, a downpour may well see your prized shrub with stems lying horizontally.
Fine if you can find an adequate manner to support your shrub.
I will use the safer option. In autumn or early Spring, cut the stems back by half. Completely cut out wayward and old stems.
Removing the branch length by half will benefit in two ways, the flowers will be smaller as you can see in my pictures (far from insignificant) and the stems will be stronger.
Even with this procedure, your Hydrangea will still require a bit of support.
Quick details
• Height – maximum height of 5ft
• Pruning – as given in the information above
• Position – semi-shade but will still grow well in full sun if given plenty of water
• Soil – happy in any free draining garden soil acid to alkaline
• Hardiness – fully hardy deciduous shrub
I will have to check out Limelight Pam.
I don’t have Annabelle, but the similar ‘Limelight’ which also blooms on new growth. You give good advice about cutting back by half. I do this when the plant goes dormant. I’m glad yours is doing well in its new situation. P x
Hello Joy, good to see the success you have with Hydrangea. They were much maligned for far too long.
Hello Alistair .. funny enough we are finally having some rain here .. thankfully most of my hydrangea are paniculata and seem to have more backbone with my very aggressive pruning in the Fall .. I went a bit mad this past Fall and thought there might be a problem this year with flowering etc .. but they have all surprised the life out of me and thrived so far beyond my expectations it is remarkable, especially with the brutal winter that we had.
I am not one for mop heads even though I did do that impulse buy with “Early Blue” .. your analysis is very accurate though and the information helpful to people new to hydrangea .. no matter how I prune Little Lamb she always droops, so I just have to accept and deal with it the best way I can .. if you have a soft spot for a plant … that is what you do as a gardener right ? LOL
I do love my Pink Diamond standard .. so far .. SO GOOD !
Hi Nadezda, yes, in spite of the pruning method I will still have to add support.
I think many varieties of Hydrangeas have the same minus: their branches aren’t strong, as my Hydrangea paniculata has, and the stems with heavy large flowers are lying down, especially after rain. What I do? Yes, I cut branches as you write, and also I support it with a plastic net around the bush.
Your hydrangea is pretty , flowers are big and they are many.