I like the idea of a climbing hydrangea more than the actual experience. Good specimens seem to produce a profusion of frothy, white blossoms particularly when grown by someone else.

My Problem Climbing Hydrangea

• In my case I planted the sole attempt near a supporting wall. The soil my not be of the best quality, fertility nor humous rich. So what can I expect from Hydrangea petiolaris an Asian woodland native.
• To compound my sins the wall faces north but in mitigation it is only 2 feet high and the climber now occupies both sides. However flowers are there none or sparse to say the least.
• Nostrums, potions and plenty of compost have not stimulated leaf or branch growth so what hope of flowers.
• I expected this Hydrangea to take a while to settle in and start producing but 5 years on and my patience is wearing thin. I guess that is true of the plant which is still keen on revenge for my earlier mistakes over its location.
• I would prune it after flowering in mid summer but without flowers to set me off I have been a bit too lax. Then again the plant is a bit lax too.
• In researching this post I discover Hydrangea anomala is a species of vine hydrangea and may be my plant is as confused as I am.
• I trim the vine to control its height and width or make cuts at leaf nodes to encourage the plant to fill out. However I may be chopping of my buds to spite my face.
  

 

Where too Now

• Cut my losses and turf the climbing hydrangea out.
• Take cuttings and try new locations more in keeping with its needs. A poor strain of plant will not get better after vegetative propagation.
• Stick with it and be happy there is one plant to have a moan about.
• Either move to the south of the UK or buy this book about getting Hydrangeas to bloom in the north.