Wildflower Spot – June 2016 John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society - - Decumaria barbara species of eastern Asia. Such a startling distri bution, seen also in hickories, tulip-trees, sas Past-president of the John Clayton geological and climatic changes and extinctions ClimbingChapter, VNPS Hydrangea safras and many other plants, reflects massive By Helen Hamilton, over millions of years. - This handsome woody vine needs a climbing surface, without which it does not produce allThe over third Virginia, genus includes and attracts the nativebees, birds Wild andHy drangea (Hydrangea arborescens) that grows Euonymus, adventitious roots readily cling to garden centers but they are usually sterile and flowers. Like Trumpet Creeper and Climbing - butterflies. Many beautiful cultivars are vsold in tree bark, stone walls and fences. A high climb The opposite leaves are oval, usually toothed, do not offer food for pollinating insects. er, the stems can reach over 60 feet in height. through June, the numerous fragrant white glossy above, and deciduous. Blooming May From July through October this vine produces flowers bear 7-10 petals and 20-30 stamens. - fruit capsules shaped like tops and strongly hangingribbed. Infrom the a winter, bare stem Climbing clinging Hydrangea high on theis of ten conspicuous with its clusters of dark fruits trunk of a tree. - ringClimbing only inHydrangea the southeast prefers counties partial of shade Virginia, in swamps, wet woods and moist forests. Occur and Texas, and to some mountainous habitats of this vine extends to Florida, west to Louisiana South Carolina and Tennessee. - - The Hydrangea Family is represented in Vir mountainousginia by only 3 regions, genera. and Mock an Orangeoccasional (Phila culti- delphus) is a shrub (native and introduced) of vated escape elsewhere. The genus Decumaria has only two species, Climbing Hydrangea that Photo:is native to eastern North America,Decumaria and another barbara) For more information about native plants visit Climbing Hydrangea ( taken by Phillip Merritt www.vnps.org..