I have two small climbing hydrangeas that I bought last year. There is a lot of new growth, but I don't expect much for a couple of more years. It won't flower for a few years either.

From what I understand, these vines can grow as high as you want to support them, given enought time. I remember seeing a picture online (that I can't find now) of a climbing hydrangea climbing up a brick chimney of a three story house. In bloom, beautiful!

It climbs via tendrils, all they need is something to grip. I have mine climbing up a trellis along my deck, and in a year or so we plan on putting on an arbor over the deck and it will climb on that.

However, your last question is the most important. I believe it is only suitable for zones 4-7 according to some sites I found by googling. There are a couple of sites that claim 5-9, but that must be in shade. Or it might depend on the specific cultivar.

Hope this helps!

Link below will answer most if not all of your questions.

7b is OK for climbing hydrangeas, though some shade (especialy to root zone) would be prefered while in z6 and colder it wouldn't mind to be in full sun.

If you decide to go with it, before you buy look for Schizophragma hydrangeoides. Exactly the same culture and growing parameters, but completely different and uncommon blooms.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nice tutorial

There are a couple of points that should be clarified. Climbing hydrangeas (and that includes the Japanese cl. hydrangeas, Schizophragma) are not really vines. When mature, they are big and heavy woody plants. They attach themselves not by tendrils but by rootlets called holdfasts that appear along the stems. Because of their size and this method of growth, they are not suitable for trellises. Or smooth surfaces for that matter. They need a large textured surface to attach to - a substantial tree trunk, wooden fence, brick wall, etc. You can train them when they are young and new stems quite flexible, but you will be much happier with your hydrangea if you plan ahead to provide a substantial support system.

Once established, growth can be faster than expected - mine is putting on 3-5' a year now, but it's taken a good few years for this to happen. And don't expect flowers very rapidly - that also takes some time and maturity. The old saying applied to clematis of "the first year they sleep, the second they creep and the third year they leap" definitely applies to climbing hydrangeas, although I'd be inclined to double the time frame :-)

My neighbour has one growing up her brick chimney. Actually, it's all the way up there. No tendrils, just holdfasts as Gardengal says.

I have one as well, just started a couple of years ago. Took pity on the poor thing. It was in the dud pile at a garden center, spotted it and got it for free. Last year it grew healthy, but only got to three feet. It did however flower! It's a schiz.

From what I can tell so far, this year it will shoot upwards and leap. Happy, joy, joy!! :O)

Mine grows on the north wall of the house and it's up to the eaves (one story building). It's been flowering for the past three or four years but took several years to get established. Beautiful foliage, interesting exfoliating bark and flowers that last and last - what's not to like?
When the house was resided, the contractor took it down and then tied it back up over the new wall. Whether it will cling to vinyl siding is another question but so far it looks good. It does have some strips of trellis to help it on its way.

I have mine on a horribly pruned, half dead tree. I'm hoping it will eventually cover the pure ugliness that is this tree. But, since I just planted it last year, it'll be quite some time before that happens.

It was maybe a foot tall when planted last year and it's not really done anything this year other than put on more leaves. It's okay though, I'm a patient gal.

I also saw that online pic of one growing up the chimney... gave me something to look forward to!

Speaking of which - I have mine potted up on my front porch until I can get it planted. I was thinking of marrying it with my Cecile Brunner climber, but thought perhaps it would get too much sun there.

The place I would like to plant it is along our back fence in the north-west corner. It gets some sun, but mostly shade. Is this a good place to put it?

Heather

Donna--
They do grow and thrive in my area of the south, as I have had one for about 15 years.
I would advise placing it near a tree with very rough bark, Oak, Maple, etc. or grow it on an Arbor or Pergola. You will need to interleave the new growth among the cross-members to provide support.
A brick wall did not work for me. After many years, the woody stems became so large and the foliage so profuse, that during a torrential rainstorm, it became so heavy, that the roots couldn't hold it and the entire plant came down!
Be forewarned, that it usually requires several years to begin flowering and needs dappled shade or bright reflected light (or it may never flower!)

It's a wonderful plant. But don't fool yourself into thinking Hydrangea anomala petiolaris is as easily contained/constrained as any other vine... listen to Gardengal's advice!!!

It's a big, rugged, tough-ass plant. One of my favorites in my area has happily embraced a 60' loggia on a seaside home. Sure, it's an old plant, but the fact that it has covered 60' should underscore Gardengal's advice about its rapacity. My own is happily moving over the provided arbor and creeping up the back side of the fence, too. I have to prune it hard or get busy providing supports to keep the wind from prying its holds from the surface... probably the former!

A wonderful plant, but not for the impatient and not for those unwilling to provide the sort of LONG TERM, rugged support required for something that's growth and mature size rivals vigorous shrubs/trees.

You've been warned. But if you plan accordingly, you will be richly rewarded!

After reading this thread, I'm really must have a Climbing Hydrangea!
I have 2 pine trees with lower branches trimmed off many years ago.
Each pine tree is behind and to the left and right side of an arch trellis
that has roses and clematis.
On one side, a rose branch has grown up and away onto
one pine tree's lower branches. For a second pine tree
on the other side, I'm inspired to have Climbing Hydrangea
growing up the truck of the tree. This second tree's area gets
the morning sun, and later dappled shade.
After trimming additional tree branches, two lace cap hydrangeas
are finally beginning to get blooms, after years of only foliage.

Questions: Any suggestions for place or online company
to buy a Climbing Hydrangea? Area of residence is SE PA.
Any suggestion for soil preparation to grow the Hydrangea?
Boxwood bushes grow on the left and right side of the arch trellis.
All the bushes, roses, clematis and flower beds are nourished with compost.
Will the Hydrangea adversely affect a live pine tree in time?
Thank you for the inspiration!

I actually found mine last summer at lowes for $6.98. They last time I was there (last week, I think) they had some that were on a trellis in a gallon (or larger maybe) sized pot. They were probably 4' tall. I think those were around $30.00. You might want to check them out.

I planted this 17 years ago - actually two of them three feet apart. They reached the top of the chimney (about 45 feet) and spilled OVER a few years ago, then a storm took about 1/4 of the top. New growth clings to the brick easily but we have used metal fasteners made specifically for the purpose of anchoring vines to brick - got at a nursery. We need to get back up there before another storm topples more. Took about five years to get decent blooms. I think there was one on each 'vine' after three years. Japanese beetles love it and it's not fun spraying from an extension ladder. But I love it. Beautiful exfoliating bark in winter. This is in a Chicago suburb.

Westy

http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k108/cwestgaard/?action=view&current=Hydrangea.jpg"; target="_blank">{{gwi:238658}}

I've never gotten one because of the Japanese bettles. Any easy solutions for them on climbing hydrangea?

Thank you for the tip about Lowe's, which is located close by.

Ugh, don't need the J. Beetles! Would a non toxic
Insecticide Soap help?

Westy1941: Your climbing Hydrangea is beautiful!
Does it get morning sun and afternoon shade?

Wow, y'all! Thanks for all the wonderful information! I have been flat on my back for a week with muscle spasms (but reading gardening books, neverthless:) and haven't checked in for awhile. This is such a wonderful response! I am particularly grateful for the picture (so fabulous), for gardengal's in-depth advice (as always) and for the tip from the fellow southerner (thanks, georgia-rose. I needed that.). I'm wanting a hydrangea (maybe the Moonlight) in a big way. Have a two story brick wall on the north side of my house that sure needs something. But, as several of you said, I've got to plan the support out carefully before I buy. Thanks to you all! Whatever I do, it will be well informed. Donna