I've also seen these growing along some trails here in western PA. They really seem to like growing on hillocks and little slopes. But I'm not 100% sure what they are. I'd like to grow some over my hillside but the wild grapevines would overtake them. If they're not hydrangea, they might propagate by seed only, as none of the growth on these looks like it's from old wood.

I *think* I've also seen the puffy blooms in shades of pink.

Anyone have ideas??

'Wild hydrangea', Hydrangea arborescens, is native to the US from southern NY to Florida, growing often in moist soils under a deciduous wood canopy but can present alongside streams and roadbanks. In its natural form, it is most often lacking any showy sterile flowers or few, if present, and quite small. Native plants generally look nothing like 'Annabelle' or other marketed cultivars.

Without examining the foliage, it's hard to be certain but it sure looks like an arborescens. It's definitely a hydrangea!

Arborescens is also known as smooth hydrangea or sevenbark.

June19 2015

Hydrangeas · More Info

July 2 2015

Hydrangeas · More Info

July 2 2015

I got my plant last year near the end of the season without any blooms I had no idea what color they would be. it was labeled An Annabelle arborescens . Most Annabelle I have see had the creamy white blooms. Will the bloom ever change to white.

It's an Annabelle but what you have is an old bloom. Their blooms turn from white to green like that. I am surprised that your hydrangea matured this early though. Last year, when I was up in Minneapolis, I see Annabelle all over but the flowers didn't turn green till September. I bought myself a tiny twig of Annabelle online this spring. It has grown to about 2 feet tall but still no sign of blooms :(

Annabelle blooms start green, turn white or creamy white then mostly green again (maybe a few speckles of shades of pink). More sun forces white faster. Same with Limelight and Little Lime. Annabelle stems can be weak so I would prefer to let the stem grow and get older/stronger before it starts blooming; some people cut the blooms when young to do this.

Yes, I have two Annabelles too. Interesting how it came from the WILD types in the forests.

Here is one of my Annabelles May 22, 2014

June 5, 2014

July 25, 2014

Some kind of strange bug on one of the blooms

zoomed in on the bug

Since I began planting lots of things, I've seen what seems like every bug known to man! And about every pest... But they haven't been able to keep up with how much stuff I have or how fast it grows. Muhahaha!

With the pests come all their predators too. Assassin bugs, toads, and all kinds of spiders up to wolf and nursery web which can push 3" across!