Wild About Hydrangea— Hydrangea arborescens

By Barry Schneider, Surrounds

Our senior landscape architect, Howard Cohen, loves using native plants. A few years ago, he started specifying Hydrangea arborescens ‘Haas’ Halo’ for some of his planting plans. So it is easy to understand why he was excited to learn, after attending a recent LCA seminar on native perennials, that ‘Haas Halo’ was the only wild hydrangea to receive a five-star rating by researchers at the Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware.

At the Mt. Cuba Center Trials, 29 hydrangea, including our old favorites ‘Annabelle’ and Incrediball, were evaluated for five years. ‘Haas’ Halo’ was the only variety that received five stars.

Style Meets Substance

This cultivar originated from a seedling selected from the Pennsylvania garden of Joan Haas by Frederick Ray, a plantsman and horticulture professor. Ray selected the arborescens seedling for its upright growth habit and oversized lace cap flower heads supported by sturdy stems (no drooping!).

The promotional material for H. arborescens ‘Haas’ Halo’ states, “style meets substance in

Wild About Hydrangea

this knockout that offers the perfect combination of horticultural excellence and pollinator value.” Specifically, ‘Haas’ Halo’ thrives within a broad spectrum of light exposure and tolerates dry conditions once established—and the bees love it.

Unlike other hydrangeas, this one is bred to be pollinator friendly.

In the trial at Mt. Cuba Center, plants in full sun displayed huge flower heads that were consistently among the largest in the entire evaluation. Whereas other hydrangeas such as ‘Annabelle’ are sterile, the ‘Haas’ flower head is an unusual combination of fertile and sterile parts. Clusters of tiny, cream-colored flowers that provide nectar and pollen for pollinators are surrounded by larger, pure white flowers that are sterile.

Arboresens ‘Haas’ Halo’ also had a nearly flawless performance when grown in the shade. It displayed uniform growth, deep bluish-green foliage, and flower heads that continued looking great for months after their midsummer bloom.

The Facts: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Haas’ Halo’

Common names: Smooth Hydrangea, Wild Hydrangea

Hardiness zone: 3–8

Height: 3’ to 5’ tall

Spread: 3’ to 5’ wide

Shape: Upright

Bloom cycle: June to October on new wood

Flower: Lace cap

Sun: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Tolerates moist to dry conditions

Characteristics: Attracts pollinators

Landscape use: Foundation plantings, massing, cutting gardens, native plant gardens

Maintenance: Prune close to the ground in late winter to encourage vigorous stem growth.

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