Plant field guide
Hydrangea (Annabelle)
The classic American native hydrangea producing enormous round white flower heads up to 12 inches across. Reliable bloomer regardless of winter cold — blooms on new wood. The quintessential cottage garden shrub.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
- Sun
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 36 in (91 cm) – 60 in (152 cm)
- Spread
- 48 in (122 cm) – 72 in (183 cm)
- Spacing
- 48 in (122 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 3–9; average annual extreme minimum from -40°F (-40.0°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: March.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Cut to 6–12 inches in early spring for the largest flower heads (or leave 12–18 inches for more blooms on shorter stems). Extremely cold-hardy. Needs no winter protection. Will flop under heavy rain if cut too low — stake if needed.
Pruning
Cut back hard in early spring (to 6–12 inches) for largest blooms on fewest stems. Or cut less aggressively for more stems and better branch support.
Fertilizer
Balanced slow-release
Early spring
Mulch
3–4 inches organic mulch.