Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Green Dragon’
Green Dragon Smooth Hydrangea
- Family
- Hydrangeaceae
- Height
- 3 to 5 feet
- Width
- 3 to 5 feet
- Flower color
- Green, maturing to white
- Foliage color
- Dark green
- Bloom time
- Summer
- Light
- Partial shade to full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts butterflies and other pollinators
About this plant
Hydrangea arborescens 'Green Dragon' is a unique and striking shrub known for its distinctive lime-green flower heads that add a fresh, vibrant touch to the garden. The large, dome-shaped blooms emerge in mid-summer, featuring a mix of tiny fertile flowers surrounded by showy, petal-like sepals, all in varying shades of green. As the season progresses, the flowers take on subtle hints of cream, adding depth and interest to the display.
The foliage is equally notable, with leaves that are deeply lobed and have a somewhat jagged appearance, setting them apart from the smoother, more rounded leaves of standard hydrangea varieties. This unusual leaf shape adds an extra layer of texture to the plant, making 'Green Dragon' a standout choice for mixed borders, woodland gardens, or as a striking specimen plant.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Woodland Gardens · Cottage Gardens
Companion plants
Aucuba · Camellia · Epimedium · Foamflower · Cyclamen · Hosta
Design tip
The deeply lobed foliage is as important to ‘Green Dragon’ as its flowers. Treat the unusual leaf shape as a textural feature, allowing it to provide distinctive visual interest throughout the season, before and after the green-to-cream summer blooms.
