How much does a hydrangea protrude? 0-1 feet is ok but more would be a problem.

Couple of other thoughts - hydrangeas (and that includes the climbers) prefer some shade. Full sun may be too much of a stressful exposure for them. The flowers on a climbing hydrangea are produced on old growth so any pruning risks removal of the flowering potential.

Individual stems can extend 4-5 feet so there is very significant potential that it will encroach into your neighbor's yard more than is reasonable. And if the plant is happy and becomes well established, climbing hydrangeas can be very big and heavy.

Have you considered a honeysuckle for this purpose? Very maintainable to a specific size with annual pruning (and necessary in-season trimming) and well-suited to grow on and through a chain link fence.

'How much does a hydrangea protrude?' Your vine, whatever you decide on, doesn't understand the concept of 'fence'. What is 'sees' is support, not barrier. Chain link is full of holes and a plant will always grow in directions which best suit it. You can't expect it to stay your side of the fence if conditions are better on the other. So it will potentially protrude as far on the neighbour's side as on yours.

Sounds like my hydrangeas will not be a good for this purpose. Gardengal, I thought honeysuckle was very invasive. The bed in front of the fence has other plants in it and I would be afraid to plant honeysuckle in it. I have other shrubs I can use as a barrier. I've just always wanted climbing hydrangea and thought this might be the time. Thank you!

There are invasive honeysuckles, but not all create issues. Look at the various cultivars of the native trumpet honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens. I grow Major Wheeler in a bed with many other plants, and it hasn't sent out any suckers, created any seedlings, or effected any of the other plants in the bed. It has stayed on its trellis. It has a heavy spring bloom that covers the plants with blooms in May here, but continues to throw out blooms on new growth all season until freeze.

Thank you! I will check it out. Does it attract bees?

bibbus, I don't know whether you have ever seen climbing hydrangea in the flesh? If you are imagining something like the shrubby species with big mop heads you would be disappointed. The climber is rather an understated off-white lace cap and bloom, while attractive, is sparse compared with the shrub varieties. Major wheeler would be much better suited to a chain link fence. And apparently hummingbirds love it, although that isn't something I know first hand. Bees are not keen as it has long trumpet flowers they cannot access but moths like it.

I have seen one but its been a long time since I've seen one that wasn't on pinterest, LOL! I googled Major Wheeler and it looks awesome. I need bees though for my large vegetable gardens. Like many people, I've lost lots of bees, butterflies, etc in the last few years. I'm an organic gardener. Thanks for bringing up these issues because I realize that climbing hydrangea is not suitable for my fence.

Bibbus, there are nearly 200 different species of honeysuckle and only a small handful of these are considered invasive!! There are many, many species that are great garden companions, offering a long season of showy flowers, often a strong fragrance and an attraction to hummingbirds and other pollinators. In addition to the Lonicera sempervirens listed above, I'd consider one of the Dutch honeysuckles, a selection of Lonicera periclymenum - very showy, 2-toned flowers, a strong fragrance and no invasive characteristics.

IME, honeysuckles make an excellent vine to cover a chain link fence!!

As floral said, the shape of the trumpet honeysuckle flowers makes it difficult for bees to access the pollen and nectar, and I can't say i've ever noticed bees near it. However I do have a lot of other bees in my garden which like the many wide open blooms, and to be honest I've never been stung when working in the garden. DH sometimes get stung by ground-dwelling yellow jackets when he mows near the entrance unaware that it's there, but otherwise most stinging insects are fairly peaceable to coexist with as long as they are not stepped on or caught between skin and clothing.

For attracting bees, look at blooms that have flatter flowers or wider bell-shapes.