Introducing Hydrangea anomala subsp. anomala -- the other climbing hydrangea vine. Rarely offered, and less showy than its more common cousins, anomala’s robust, shiny dark green leaves and pleasant white flowers are a refreshing change of pace for the discerning eye. Deciduous. Zones 5-8.

A lusty and large growing climber, Schizophragma integrifolium var. fauriei tolerates more sun than most of the hydrangea climbers and grows with intent. It clings by holdfasts to your tree, wall or house, but not your leg (we’re not talking Akebia here). Unless you’re a statue. And if so, pay in advance -- well in advance. Huge white blooms in late spring will make a tremendous addition to almost any vertical space. Zones 6?-9.

Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris is a four season plant with lightly fragrant white lacecap flowers in early summer, yellow fall foliage and handsome winter bark. This is the one touted in the garden books (they don’t know all the secrets we know). And yes, it does take patience being a prime example of a "sleep, creep, leap" plant. A true climber it will attach by holdfasts to any planar surface. An aristocrat among vines. Sun to partial shade. Early season. Zones 4-7.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides ’Moonlight’ has luminous silvery-green foliage with dark green veins in its youth. The summer flowers are white, lacecap inflorescences. A true clinging vine, it grows most happily on stone or brick or up a shady tree. Were it never to bloom the foliage alone is dazzling. Part shade to shade. Zones 5-7.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides ’Roseum’ is a blush-pink flowered form of the Japanese climbing hydrangea vine. It is pink for us in the south only upon first opening, becoming blush white under our heat & humidity. But for those few days it reminds us that spring is a time of wide possiblity. Even pink. A true climber it will attach to your wall or tree and head up. Deciduous, for shade in zones 5 to 7, it may reach 30’ in time. Slow to bloom if it can climb.