Hydrangea arborescens

Smooth Hydrangea is the most common hydrangea found in North Carolina. This shrub has a suckering, spreading form with an open crown. Leaves are egg-shaped and have smooth undersides, giving this plant its common name. The flowers are in dome shaped corymbs, with tiny fertile flowers throughout and open infertile flowers on the margins. Blooms start out white and slowly turn tan to green throughout most of summer, until they turn into brown capsules containing seeds in late summer. Smooth Hydrangea prefers areas of part shade but can tolerate more sun if adequate moisture is provided. This plant is toxic to most mammals, making it deer and rabbit resistant. It can be planted under or near black walnut trees as it is tolerant of its allelopathic quality. The foliage of this shrub is a food source for Hydrangea Sphinx Moth larvae.