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Common Name:

General Information

Hydrangea anomala is a Deciduous Climber up to 12.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.

Habitat

Shady ravines to 2100 metres in the Himalayas[]. Dense to sparse forests in valleys, along stream banks, or on rocky mountain slopes at elevations of 500 - 2900 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Climber
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Tolerates most soils[], thriving in a well-drained loamy soil[], but resenting dryness at the roots[, ]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[], but if it is grown in a low rainfall area then it requires shade at the hottest part of the day[]. Does well on very acid soils with a pH around 4.5[]. The colour of the flowers reflects the pH of the soil the plant is growing in, the flowers are pink in a neutral to alkaline soil and blue in an acid soil.
Although the dormant plant is quite hardy in Britain, the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
A fast-growing self-clinging climbing plant[], attaching itself by means of aerial roots[], and growing up walls or tree trunks on any aspect. The plants may need initial support, however[]. Plants are growing well on a wall at Kew[]. Grows well on north walls but prefers a sunnier position[].
Closely related to H. petiolaris[]. H. petiolaris is normally treated as no more than a sub-species of this species[].
This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked. A cucumber taste[]. The Japanese crush the leaves and use them fresh with miso[, ].
A boiled concoction of the leaves is used to make a syrup[, ].
The sweet sap is used as a drink[].

Medicinal

The leaves are used medicinally[]. No further information is given.

Other Uses

The bark is a paper substitute[, ].
The sub-species H. anomala petiolaris can be used as a ground cover plant in a shady position[]. It is best spaced about 1.8 metres apart each way[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse in spring[]. Cover the pot with paper until the seed germinates[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 8cm long, mid summer in a frame. Overwinter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring[].
Cuttings of mature wood in late autumn in a frame[].
Mound layering in spring. Takes 12 months[].
Basal softwood cuttings of non-flowering shoots[].
Leaf-bud cuttings of the current seasons growth in a frame[].