Hydrangea arbo. Strong Annabelle

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Strong Annabelle’ is a robust smooth hydrangea valued for its large, rounded white flowerheads in mid to late summer and sturdy stems that help hold them aloft. A reliable, fully hardy, deciduous shrub for Irish gardens, it thrives in sun or light shade in moist but well‑drained, moderately fertile soil, reaching around 1–1.5m high and wide. Ideal for mixed borders or as a focal shrub, it flowers on new wood; prune in late winter to early spring to a low framework to encourage strong new shoots and abundant blooms. Plant in spring or autumn, enrich the planting area with organic matter, water well to establish, and allow good air circulation.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Sun or light shade

Rate of Growth: Moderate

Soil: Moist but well-drained, moderately fertile

Hardiness: Fully hardy

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Plant at a Glance