Silverleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea radiata)
Description
Hydrangea radiata is an attractive, deciduous shrub up to 3 m tall; its natural range is limited to the southern Appalachians, where it is fairly common. Its common names—silverleaf hydrangea or snowy hydrangea—reflect its distinctive foliage which is dark green on top and silvery white below; the sharply contrasting foliar colors makes this shrub conspicuous at a distance, especially in a breeze. This attractive shrub has considerable landscaping potential in areas with a suitable climate and soils. Requiring cool, moist habitats in the shade, silverleaf hydrangea is not as tolerant of the heat and drought as smooth hydrangea. It is also more difficult to root from cuttings than either smooth or ashy hydrangeas. Silverleaf hydrangea produces more showy flowers than smooth hydrangea or ashy hydrangea. Silverleaf hydrangea is suitable for hardiness zones 4 to 9, although highly protected locations would be advisable in areas warmer than zone 6. Several popular cultivars are available (Samantha and Terri Greer).
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Cornales
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Family: Hydrangeaceae
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Genus: Hydrangea
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