Hydrangea radiata

Silver hydrangea is native to the mountainous region (usually above 2,000 feet elevation) represented by the southern Blue Ridge Mountains from southeast Tennessee, east to North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina, and south to northeastern Georgia.[2][3] It typically occurs near streams, rocky outcrops, and along roads, especially in the headwaters of the Chattooga River and also in the French Broad River Valley. It is conspicuous along roadsides near the junction of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia—in the vicinity of Highlands, Cashiers, and Rosman, North Carolina. Some outlier occurrences of silverleaf hydrangea have been locally observed in the Piedmont Region; these populations may have escaped from cultivation.[3]

Silverleaf hydrangea is similar to the more widespread smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) and ashy hydrangea (Hydrangea cinerea). At one time both silverleaf hydrangea and ashy hydrangea were considered subspecies of smooth hydrangea.[6] However, most taxonomists now consider them to be separate species, and that usage is adopted here.[7][3] Evidence for separating these three closely related, native hydrangeas is based largely on cross-pollination experiments conducted by Ronald Pilatowski.[7] The crosses yielded few viable seeds at best, indicating that despite overlapping ranges and characteristics, the plants maintained their genetic purity and their unique phenotypic characteristics.

Inflorescence of Hydrangea radiata

The inflorescence of silver hydrangea is a corymb. The showy, sterile flowers (white to near white) and are comparatively abundant (2-15 per bloom) and are borne around the periphery of the corymb; they are usually greater than 1 cm in diameter.[3]

The leaves of silverleaf hydrangea are large (8 to 15 cm long), opposite, serrated, ovate, and deciduous. The upper leaf surface has hairs along the veins. The lower leaf surface is densely covered with felt-like hairs, appearing bright white or silver; when viewed under magnification, these hairs are without tubercles (ashy hydrangea has numerous tubercles).[7] These hairs are so thick that the lower surface of the leaf 's epidermis cannot be seen.

This attractive shrub has considerable landscaping potential in areas with a suitable climate and soils.[5] 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).

• Cook, Will. Trees, shrubs, and woody vines of North Carolina. Silverleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea radiata).
• The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. Bulletin of Popular Information. 1922. Hydrangea radiata.