Overview
Uses: Hedges, mass plantings, mixed borders, and cut flower gardens.
Benefits: Huge white mophead blooms on extra-sturdy stems that stay upright after heavy rain. Blooms on new wood, so it flowers reliably every summer even after a hard winter.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded, Upright — full, strong-stemmed.
Bloom Color: White
Mature Height: 4–5 feet
Mature Width: 4–5 feet
Bloom Season: Summer
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Giant white hydrangea blooms that stay standing after the storm.
Smooth hydrangeas are loved for their big, round summer flower heads, and just as well known for flopping over the first time a thunderstorm soaks them. Incrediball® Storm Proof™ was selected to fix that. Its huge white mopheads sit on thick, sturdy stems that keep the blooms upright after heavy rain, so the plant still looks good the morning after.
Flowers open in early summer, often with a hint of green, mature to clean white, and hold for weeks before fading to soft green late in the season. The plant forms a full, rounded shrub about 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, a good size for a hedge, a mass planting, or the middle of a mixed border.
Because smooth hydrangea blooms on new wood, the flower buds form on the current season's growth. A harsh winter or a hard cutback in early spring does not cost you the summer show, which makes it one of the most dependable hydrangeas for cold climates.
Care
Incrediball® Storm Proof™ Smooth Hydrangea Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. In cooler regions it handles full sun well; where summers are hot, some afternoon shade keeps the leaves and flowers from wilting.
It prefers moist, well-drained soil with some organic matter and adapts to clay. Unlike bigleaf hydrangeas, the flower color does not change with soil pH; it stays white.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season, and during hot, dry spells after that. Smooth hydrangeas show stress quickly by wilting, and a deep soak usually brings them back. A two-to-three-inch layer of mulch helps keep moisture even.
Feed once in early spring with a slow release fertilizer to support strong stems and large blooms.
Prune in late winter or early spring. Cutting all stems back to about 18 to 24 inches encourages a sturdy framework and plenty of flowers. Old flower heads can be left on through winter for interest and removed when you prune.
Size
What Size is the Incrediball® Storm Proof™ Smooth Hydrangea for Sale Online?
Our Incrediball® Storm Proof™ Smooth Hydrangea ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive as bare stems with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Incrediball® Storm Proof™ Smooth Hydrangea Grow?
Expect about 4 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a full, rounded shape. Space plants about 4 feet apart for a continuous flowering hedge.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Incrediball® Storm Proof™ Smooth Hydrangea?
The botanical name is Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball® Storm Proof™. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub selected for large blooms on extra-strong stems.
What are some common names for this plant?
- Smooth hydrangea
- Wild hydrangea
- Sevenbark
Is Incrediball® Storm Proof™ Smooth Hydrangea a native plant?
It is a selection of Hydrangea arborescens, which is native to the woodlands and stream banks of the eastern United States. Selections like this one are often called nativars: they keep the adaptability of the native species while adding much larger flower heads. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
How is it different from Annabelle and the original Incrediball®?
Annabelle is the classic white smooth hydrangea, but its heads often bend to the ground after rain. The original Incrediball® improved on it with larger blooms and stronger stems. Storm Proof™ carries that further, with stems sturdy enough that the flowers stay upright after heavy summer storms.
Are the flowers good for cutting and drying?
Yes. Cut the heads for fresh arrangements once they have fully opened white. For drying, wait until late summer, when the flowers have begun to turn green and feel slightly papery, then hang them upside down in a dry spot. For more flowering shrubs, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
