Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) Classic Round Sticker

Hydrangea arborescens, aka Smooth hydrangea, is a deciduous shrub native to areas of the Eastern to Midwestern US. 'Annabelle' is a naturally occurring cultivar, discovered in the wild near Anna, Illinois. It features much larger flowers than the species, but the flowers are all sterile. Because it was found in the wild, ‘Annabelle’ is considered a Nativar, a plant mutation found in nature, further bred for ornamental value. Value can be lost when horticulturists select for ornamental features - that's why gardeners who want to support wildlife are rethinking Nativars. ‘Annabelle’ is an example of a nativar that does not support wildlife the way the true native does: because the flowers are sterile, there is nothing for pollinators to eat. Not every nativar loses value for wildlife, but it’s hard for the average gardener (or even the expert horticulturalist!) to know the relationships that may be lost. Yet there is value for human beings, to see an ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea in full bloom! Plant one for beauty among your native plants, a branch for a weary butterfly to land! - or maybe just get some of these decals to admire on your laptop, water bottle or notebook. And now you've learned something about Nativars :)