There are about 100 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and climbers, rarely trees, in this genus. They occur in woodland in Eastern Asia and North and South America. Grown mainly for their large, showy flower heads, many hydrangeas also have ornamental, flaky, peeling bark when mature, and attractive foliage with good autumn color. The leaves are broadly to narrowly ovate, or lance shaped, toothed, and either opposite or in whorls of 3. The flat, domed, or conical, terminal flower heads consist of corymbs or panicles of both tiny fertile flowers and larger sterile flowers with showy, 4 petal-like sepals.

Cultivars of H. macrophylla are divided into 2 groups: lacecaps have flattened flower heads with small fertile flowers in the centers, surrounded by larger sterile flowers, Hortensias (mophead hydrangeas) have nearly spherical flower heads of large sterile flowers.

The flower color of hydrangeas is affected by acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Acidic soil containing aluminum produce blue flowers, soil with a pH greater than 6.0 produces reds and pink flowers. White flowers are not affected by pH. H. macrophylla can change their color by dressing with aluminum sulphate for blue and with lime for red.

Hydrangeas are useful for a range of garden site: they are excellent as specimen plants or in group plantings, in a shrub border, or in containers. Climbers can be used to clothe a shaded wall or fence, or grow up tree trunks. The flower heads may be dried for use in arrangements.

All parts of hydrangeas may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with the foliage may aggravate skin allergies.

Grow in moist but well drained, moderately fertile, humus rich soil in sun or partial shade, provide shelter from cold, drying winds. Most hydrangeas become chlorotic in alkaline soil. Reblooming and/or remontant H. macrophylla produce flowers on current season’s wood so bloom it less likely to be lost to incorrect pruning or cold.

Prone to gray mold, slugs, powdery mildew, rust, ringspot virus, leaf spots, honey fungus, aphids, scale insects, and spider mites

H. seemannii – This woody, evergreen climber, clinging by aerial roots from Mexico grows 30′ feet high. It produces elliptic to lance shaped, leathery, mid green leaves, to 6″ long. In summer it bears greenish white fertile flowers surrounded by white sterile flowers, in domed corymbs, to 6″ across.

Zones 8-9

There are about 100 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and climbers, rarely trees, in this genus. They occur in woodland in Eastern Asia and North and South America. Grown mainly for their large, showy flower heads, many hydrangeas also have ornamental, flaky, peeling bark when mature, and attractive foliage with good autumn color. The leaves are broadly to narrowly ovate, or lance shaped, toothed, and either opposite or in whorls of 3. The flat, domed, or conical, terminal flower heads consist of corymbs or panicles of both tiny fertile flowers and larger sterile flowers with showy, 4 petal-like sepals.

Cultivars of H. macrophylla are divided into 2 groups: lacecaps have flattened flower heads with small fertile flowers in the centers, surrounded by larger sterile flowers, Hortensias (mophead hydrangeas) have nearly spherical flower heads of large sterile flowers.

The flower color of hydrangeas is affected by acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Acidic soil containing aluminum produce blue flowers, soil with a pH greater than 6.0 produces reds and pink flowers. White flowers are not affected by pH. H. macrophylla can change their color by dressing with aluminum sulphate for blue and with lime for red.

Hydrangeas are useful for a range of garden site: they are excellent as specimen plants or in group plantings, in a shrub border, or in containers. Climbers can be used to clothe a shaded wall or fence, or grow up tree trunks. The flower heads may be dried for use in arrangements.

All parts of hydrangeas may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with the foliage may aggravate skin allergies.

Grow in moist but well drained, moderately fertile, humus rich soil in sun or partial shade, provide shelter from cold, drying winds. Most hydrangeas become chlorotic in alkaline soil. Reblooming and/or remontant H. macrophylla produce flowers on current season’s wood so bloom it less likely to be lost to incorrect pruning or cold.

Prone to gray mold, slugs, powdery mildew, rust, ringspot virus, leaf spots, honey fungus, aphids, scale insects, and spider mites

H. serratifolia – H. integrrima – This vigorous, woody, evergreen climber, from Chile and Argentina grows to 50′ feet high. It is similar to H. seemannii, but with elliptic, leathery,, dark green leaves, to 6″ long, sharply toothed on young plants. In summer, it bears clusters, of corymb like flowerheads, to 6″ across, with white fertile flowers and usually no sterile flowers, open from large, spherical buds.

Zones 8-10

There are about 150 species of annual and herbaceous or evergreen perennials in this genus. They occur in sunny, sandy or pebbly banks, grassy slopes, wasteland, or open woodland in Northern temperate regions, Northern and Eastern Africa, and temperate South America. They are grown for their showy, pea-like, often scented flowers, in many colors held either single or in racemes followed by flat seed pods. Stems are usually winged, and bear alternate, pinnate leaves. Many are climber (with tendrils), others are clump forming. The climbers are useful for growing through shrubs or over a bank. L. odoratus is suitable for a trellis or arch, or an annual border for cut flowers. Clump forming species and cultivars are suitable for a rock garden, woodland garden, or herbaceous border.   Seeds may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun or light dappled shade. Climbers need support. Deadhead regularly. Divide perennial species in spring.

Prone to slugs and snails, pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and various leaf spots.

L. tingitanus – This annual tendril climber from the Canary Islands, Morocco, Algeria, Sardina , Spain, Portugal, and the Azores grows to 5′ feet high. From slender, winged stems it carries mid to deep green leaves divided into one pair of narrowly elliptic to oblong-elliptic or linear elliptic leaflets, 1 ½-3″ long. In summer it bears pale pink or crimson-magenta flowers to 1 1/4″ long, are held singly   or in 2’s or 3’s.

Zones

There are about 150 species of annual and herbaceous or evergreen perennials in this genus. They occur in sunny, sandy or pebbly banks, grassy slopes, wasteland, or open woodland in Northern temperate regions, Northern and Eastern Africa, and temperate South America. They are grown for their showy, pea-like, often scented flowers, in many colors held either single or in racemes followed by flat seed pods. Stems are usually winged, and bear alternate, pinnate leaves. Many are climber (with tendrils), others are clump forming. The climbers are useful for growing through shrubs or over a bank. L. odoratus is suitable for a trellis or arch, or an annual border for cut flowers. Clump forming species and cultivars are suitable for a rock garden, woodland garden, or herbaceous border.   Seeds may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun or light dappled shade. Climbers need support. Deadhead regularly. Divide perennial species in spring.

Prone to slugs and snails, pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and various leaf spots.

L. sylvestris – Perennial Pea – This herbaceous, perennial climber from Europe, Northwestern Africa and the Caucasus grows 6′ feet high. From winged stems it carries mid green leaves that consist of one pair of slender, linear-elliptic leaflets, 2-6″ long, with one pair of narrow stipules. From summer to early autumn it bears long stalked racemes of 3-8 pink flowers, to 3/4″ long, with purplish pink wing petals.

Zones 6-9

There are about 150 species of annual and herbaceous or evergreen perennials in this genus. They occur in sunny, sandy or pebbly banks, grassy slopes, wasteland, or open woodland in Northern temperate regions, Northern and Eastern Africa, and temperate South America. They are grown for their showy, pea-like, often scented flowers, in many colors held either single or in racemes followed by flat seed pods. Stems are usually winged, and bear alternate, pinnate leaves. Many are climber (with tendrils), others are clump forming. The climbers are useful for growing through shrubs or over a bank. L. odoratus is suitable for a trellis or arch, or an annual border for cut flowers. Clump forming species and cultivars are suitable for a rock garden, woodland garden, or herbaceous border.   Seeds may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun or light dappled shade. Climbers need support. Deadhead regularly. Divide perennial species in spring.

Prone to slugs and snails, pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and various leaf spots.

L. pubescens – This herbaceous, perennial climber from Chile and Argentina grows 10′ feet high. It produces mid to dark green leaves which are composed of one pair (sometimes 2) of elliptic to lance shaped leaflets, to 3″ long, with prominent stipules. In summer it bears long stalked racemes of 6-16 pale to deep lilac-blue flowers, to ½” long.

Zones 9-10

There are about 150 species of annual and herbaceous or evergreen perennials in this genus. They occur in sunny, sandy or pebbly banks, grassy slopes, wasteland, or open woodland in Northern temperate regions, Northern and Eastern Africa, and temperate South America. They are grown for their showy, pea-like, often scented flowers, in many colors held either single or in racemes followed by flat seed pods. Stems are usually winged, and bear alternate, pinnate leaves. Many are climber (with tendrils), others are clump forming. The climbers are useful for growing through shrubs or over a bank. L. odoratus is suitable for a trellis or arch, or an annual border for cut flowers. Clump forming species and cultivars are suitable for a rock garden, woodland garden, or herbaceous border.   Seeds may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun or light dappled shade. Climbers need support. Deadhead regularly. Divide perennial species in spring.

Prone to slugs and snails, pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and various leaf spots.

L. pratensis – Meadow vetchling – Yellow vetchling – This variable, herbaceous perennial climber found from Europe, Northern Africa to Western Asia grows 28-48″ tall and 6′ feet wide. From un-winged stems it carries bluish green leaves which are composed of one pair of linear-lance-shaped to elliptic leaflets, to 1 ½” long. From late spring to summer it bears long stalked racemes of 2-12 yellow flowers, to ½” long. Suitable for a wild flower garden.

Zones 4-9

There are about 150 species of annual and herbaceous or evergreen perennials in this genus. They occur in sunny, sandy or pebbly banks, grassy slopes, wasteland, or open woodland in Northern temperate regions, Northern and Eastern Africa, and temperate South America. They are grown for their showy, pea-like, often scented flowers, in many colors held either single or in racemes followed by flat seed pods. Stems are usually winged, and bear alternate, pinnate leaves. Many are climber (with tendrils), others are clump forming. The climbers are useful for growing through shrubs or over a bank. L. odoratus is suitable for a trellis or arch, or an annual border for cut flowers. Clump forming species and cultivars are suitable for a rock garden, woodland garden, or herbaceous border.   Seeds may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun or light dappled shade. Climbers need support. Deadhead regularly. Divide perennial species in spring.

Prone to slugs and snails, pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and various leaf spots.

Lathyrus odoratus – Sweet Pea – This vigorous annual climber from Italy grows at least 6′ feet tall. From winged stems it carries mid to dark green leaves consisting of one pair of ovate-elliptic leaflets, to 2 ½” long. From summer to early autumn it bears racemes of 2-4, sweetly fragrant flowers, to 1 ½” wide and purple wings and keels. Makes excellent cut flowers. Many cultivars have been developed including dwarf , and non climbing.

White Supreme – is vigorous, and bears racemes of usually 4, rarely 5, lightly scented white flowers. Grow as a cordon or bush, ideal for cutting.

Zones 9-10

There are about 150 species of annual and herbaceous or evergreen perennials in this genus. They occur in sunny, sandy or pebbly banks, grassy slopes, wasteland, or open woodland in Northern temperate regions, Northern and Eastern Africa, and temperate South America. They are grown for their showy, pea-like, often scented flowers, in many colors held either single or in racemes followed by flat seed pods. Stems are usually winged, and bear alternate, pinnate leaves. Many are climber (with tendrils), others are clump forming. The climbers are useful for growing through shrubs or over a bank. L. odoratus is suitable for a trellis or arch, or an annual border for cut flowers. Clump forming species and cultivars are suitable for a rock garden, woodland garden, or herbaceous border.   Seeds may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun or light dappled shade. Climbers need support. Deadhead regularly. Divide perennial species in spring.

Prone to slugs and snails, pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and various leaf spots.

Lathyrus odoratus – Sweet Pea – This vigorous annual climber from Italy grows at least 6′ feet tall. From winged stems it carries mid to dark green leaves consisting of one pair of ovate-elliptic leaflets, to 2 ½” long. From summer to early autumn it bears racemes of 2-4, sweetly fragrant flowers, to 1 ½” wide and purple wings and keels. Makes excellent cut flowers. Many cultivars have been developed including dwarf , and non climbing.

Snoopea Group – grows 24″ tall and 36″ wide and lacks tendrils, and have prominent stipules, and bear racemes of up to 4 waved flowers in shades of red, blue, pink, and white. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Grow as a bush, or as a groundcover if sown in autumn and pinched twice

Zones 9-10