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Back to trial Wild Hydrangea for the Mid-Atlantic Region

Trial Garden

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Dardom’ (White Dome®)

2 Photos


Summary

Although introduced to the American horticultural market by Proven Winners®, Hydrangea arborescens ‘Dardom’ was originally selected by Woulter Kromhout in Essen, Belgium. White Dome® wild hydrangea closely resembles the species Hydrangea arborescens but differs in several ways. H. arborescens ‘Dardom’ is a vigorous but slightly smaller hydrangea, with a height and width of 5.5’ and 7’, about 1.5’ shorter than H. arborescens. Despite the cultivar’s smaller overall size compared to the species, H. arborescens ‘Dardom’ produces larger flowers. The leaves of H. arborescens ‘Dardom’ are larger than the species’ and have a small amount of silvering and pubescence on their undersides, suggesting the influence of Hydrangea radiata or Hydrangea cinerea in its genes. Everything about H. arborescens ‘Dardom’ is magnified when the plant is cut back, including leaves, which remained a deep emerald green throughout the season, and the inflorescences, which increased in size by 55 percent. While not as eye-catching to people as top-ranked H. arborescens ‘Haas Halo’, pollinators flocked to H. arborescens ‘Dardom’ in droves. This cultivar received the most insect visits over two seasons of observation of any hydrangea in the trial.


Details

  • Rating
    4.2 (Top Performer) 
  • Common Name
    White Dome® wild hydrangea  
  • Bloom Period
    mid June - late July 
  • Peak Bloom
    early July 
  • Size
    5.5' x 7' 
  • Flower Type
    Lacecap 
  • Inflorescence Diameter
    5.5" 
  • Pollinator Score
    🐝🐝🐝