Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Emerald Lace Hydrangea stands apart for its deeply cut green foliage before the first flowers appear. Hydrangea arborescens 'Emerald Lace' grows about 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, forming a deciduous shrub with an airy, rounded presence. White lacecap flowers appear in summer on new wood, giving the plant a refined woodland look. We use it for shade gardens for its unique foliage character.
This unusual smooth hydrangea was discovered in Illinois by Stan Tyson in 1990 and is also known as Green Dragon or Riven Lace. The ragged, irregularly lobed leaves create a texture unlike standard smooth hydrangeas, and the white lacecap flowers are useful for cutting and drying. Because Emerald Lace Hydrangea blooms on new wood, winter damage is less likely to remove the summer flower display. Plant it in woodland gardens, shaded borders, native-style plantings, cottage gardens, rain garden edges, and mixed shrub beds with regular moisture.
Emerald Lace Hydrangea Care
Plant Emerald Lace Hydrangea in bright shade to partial shade, with full sun suitable only if soil stays consistently moist and afternoon heat is limited. It grows best in rich, well-drained soil with steady organic matter. This smooth hydrangea adapts to various soil pH levels, but droughty soil should be avoided because foliage quality declines in dry conditions.
Maintain even moisture through the first growing season. Established plants still need regular water during hot or rainless weather, especially in sunnier sites. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release shrub fertilizer or topdress with compost. Mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture and keep the shallow roots cooler in summer.
Prune Emerald Lace Hydrangea in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Since it flowers on new wood, stems can be cut back hard to refresh the plant and encourage strong new shoots. Remove weak, damaged, or winter-killed stems at the same time for a cleaner clump.
Emerald Lace Hydrangea Spacing
Space Emerald Lace Hydrangea 36 to 48 inches apart in mixed borders or woodland-style groups. Allow 4 to 5 feet between plants when each shrub should mature with a defined rounded outline. For containers, choose a pot at least 20 to 24 inches wide with drainage holes, and keep the potting mix evenly moist during dry, warm weather.
In shaded borders, grow Emerald Lace Hydrangea with astilbe and Jacob’s Ladder, which enjoy similar moisture and add finer flowers around the lacecap blooms. Ferns can fill the lower layer with woodland texture and match the same bright shade conditions. For containers, use dead nettle or lobelia around the edge and apply regular water to keep the planting fresh.
Emerald Lace Hydrangea Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 4 - 5 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3 - 4 Feet
- Plant Spacing
- 3 Feet Center on Center
- Habit Size
- Medium
- Growth Rate
- Moderate
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded, Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Early Summer to Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Dark Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Plant Type
- Deciduous
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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