Plant Name:

   Invincibelle® Spirit Hydrangea

Botanical Name:

   Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA1’ ppaf, cbraf

Common Name:

   Smooth Hydgrangea

USDA Hardiness Zone:

   3-9

Bloom time:

   Late May/early June, continuous blooming up until frost

Foliage Color:

   Dark green

Bud Set:

   Blooms on new wood

Bloom size:

   6-8 inches in diameter

   Often 100 or more flower heads per plant over the summer

Exposure:

   Full sun to partial shade

Plant size:

   3-4 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide

Branching Habit:

   Freely branching with as many as 100 or more terminal shoots per plant

Growth rate:

   Moderate to fast

Soil:

   Very adaptable, but proliferates in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Soil pH does

   not affect bloom color.

Pruning:

   Cut back to 2 feet in early Spring. Remove any dead branches.

Watering:

   If planted in full sun, sufficient moisture is needed. Will require additional

   watering on hot, dry summer days. In the South, should planted in partial 

   shade.

   Habitat for songbirds and butterflies

Fertilizing:

   Fertilize in early spring by applying a slow release fertilizer specialized for trees

   and shrubs. Follow the label for recommended rate of application.

   Landscape groupings or masses, perennial or shrub borders, specimen, winter 

   gardens

Breeder:

   Dr. Thomas Ranny, NCSU. Mountain Horticultural Crop Research and 

   Extension Center. Fletcher, North Carolina.

Classification:

   Deciduous flowering shrub

Habit and Growth Rate:

    It has an upright rounded habit and good, healthy growth

Ornamental Features:

Maintenance:

How plant differs from species/other cultivars:

Landscape niche/value:

Native:

     Eastern United States. Florida to Maine, Kansas to Eastern Seaboard.

Container Plant Style:

• Thriller- Used either in the back or middle of a container.

• Usually a taller item that adds height and drama to the container.

Spacing:

     48-60"

Hardy Temperature:

     -40°F (-40°C)

Notes:

• Invincibelle Spirit takes several years in the garden to reach full maturity. 

• The stems of immature plants may not be strong enough to hold their blooms upright.

• As the plant matures, stem strength increases and holds the blooms up nicely.

• The amount and size of flowers also increases as the plant matures.