Flower profile
Wild hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Wild hydrangea is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Tennessee it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Tennessee
Quick look
Hydrangea arborescens, commonly known as smooth hydrangea or sevenbark, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae. It is a small- to medium-sized, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub up to 2 m (7 ft) tall that is native to the eastern United States.
- It belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 25 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Tennessee. NatureServe
- In Tennessee, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,355 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #83 among the 112 flowers on our Tennessee list. iNaturalist
Wild hydrangea gift ideas
Handmade wild hydrangea gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Wild hydrangea art print
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Wild hydrangea greeting card
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Wild hydrangea mug
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Wild hydrangea earrings
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Wild hydrangea embroidery pattern
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Wild hydrangea sticker
When does it bloom?
In Tennessee, most flowering sightings come in May–July.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Tennessee
- Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (SH), FL (S1), LA (S2), NY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans. They also note: “The Cherokee would eat the new growth of young twigs peeled, boiled or fried.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Hills of Snow” (Hydrangea arborescens) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea. Cyanide intoxication is rare - usually produces more of a gastrointestinal… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records wild hydrangea in 25 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.
Tennessee counties with USDA records: Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carter, Cheatham, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Fayette, Fentress, Franklin, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Johnson, Knox, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, Macon, Marion, Maury, McMinn, McNairy, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Rutherford, Scott, Sevier, Shelby, Stewart, Sullivan, Sumner, Tipton, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson.
More Tennessee flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile HYAR.
- iNaturalist, Hydrangea arborescens: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Hydrangea arborescens (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Tennessee: Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act).
- Tennessee: Tennessee Pest Plant List (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Hydrangea arborescens (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: botanygirl via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.