Climbing hydrangea vines can grow to be exceptionally large, making them heavy. The climbing hydrangea doesn’t do well if it’s sitting in highly saturated soil, and good drainage can help avoid this. The best way to avoid sunburn on your climbing hydrangeas is to plant them in a location that receives partial sun, or four hours or less of direct sunlight daily. The first few years of a climbing hydrangea’s life are spent growing its vines. Some gardeners make use of the plant's white flowers in moon gardens. Climbing hydrangea vines are slow growers, taking a few years to become established and then a couple more years before they start to bloom. Aim for a soil pH that is slightly acidic, and keep the soil evenly moist. Vining plants, such as the climbing hydrangea, will cling on to the different rungs of the trellis, and will oftentimes weave their way through different sections for added support. Both rust and mildew are fungal diseases, which a healthy plant should be able to fight off. Many fences will provide holes or gaps for the climbing hydrangea to weave through as it grows, but a flat-sided fence will work just fine as well. Some gardeners cut off the dried flower heads for use in crafts. This big vine produces large clusters of white flowers held against rich, dark green foliage. climbing hydrangea, hydrangea petiolaris. Name – Hydrangea petiolaris Family – Hydrangeaceae Type – climbing vine Height – 25 to 40 feet (8 to 12 meters) Exposure – shade or part sun Soil – ordinary Foliage – deciduous Flowering – June to September. Before blooms occur, the only fertilizer that may be needed is a pH balancer to make your soil more acidic, which is how the climbing hydrangea vines like it. Soil that drains well is also a helpful feature for your climbing hydrangea plants. Too much direct sunlight can cause damage to the exposed areas. Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous. The flowers that bloom on the climbing hydrangea form in clusters. Plant climbing hydrangea in soil that drains well and contains plenty of compost. The plants' peeling bark provides some winter interest. Once the plants are established, climbing hydrangea tends to be vigorous growers and may need pruning in summer to keep them under control, if desired. If you are a southern gardener, be careful not to plant in a full sun location, this would be a location that receives 6 or more hours of light a day. Sun burn for a plant is similar to a sunburn on a human. Adding compost and a layer of mulch over the plant will help retain enough water to keep the plant healthy while not overdoing it. There there is not much you can do about it other than to start out with the largest plants possible—of course, you will pay extra at the garden center for larger plants. Concerns About Climbing Hydrangea on Walls, Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea Plant Profile, How to Grow and Care for Velvet Banana Trees, 6 Best Perennial Flowering Vines and Climbers, How to Prune Different Kinds of Hydrangeas, Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea Plant Profile. If planting on or near your home or other building structure, the northern and eastern sides will provide the ideal amounts of sun exposure for your climbing hydrangea vines. A quick pH test will tell you if your soil is more acidic or more basic, and you can apply certain fertilizers to get it to the pH level that is best for your plants. You will want to pick out a heavy-duty trellis early on, because they are not so simple to reinforce later on if needed. This subspecies produces longer stems and larger flower clusters, and has better winter hardiness. The first method is twining; the vines and vine shoot-offs will twist and wrap around a structure to support itself. Climbing hydrangea vines can benefit from occasional fertilizer, but fertilizer won’t become necessary until your climbing hydrangea vines start to bloom. Climbing hydrangeas are beautiful plants that bloom in the summer. Water the vine regularly to keep the soil moist. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Most fences if installed correctly will be strong enough to hold your climbing hydrangea, and won’t collapse from the weight. We live in zone 5 and are wondering if this plant requires any special care for winter. The climbing hydrangea is a partial shade plant, and will prefer to be kept out of direct sunlight all day. If planting on a trellis-type structure, the vines will weave throughout the trellis for added support. These vines incorporate two climbing methods, while most climbing plants only use one.