Flower profile

Wild hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is a shrub in the Hydrangeaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Native to Tennessee

Wild hydrangea is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

25states where USDA records it

1,355TN sightings*

8,684U.S. sightings*

*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.
From Wikipedia's article Hydrangea arborescens, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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
iNaturalist has 1,355 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #85 among the 182 flowers on our Tennessee list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Tennessee (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (43 records)

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?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

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}

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

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.

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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.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 828 counties across 23 states; the most are in Kentucky (111), Virginia (90), Tennessee (73).

Other Hydrangea on Bloomipedia (5): Oakleaf hydrangea, Kanawao, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea, Mountain hydrangea.

More from the Hydrangeaceae family (9 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lewis' mock orange, Cliff fendlerbush, Sweet mock orange, Slender deutzia.

More Tennessee flowers

Sweet mock orange

Philadelphus coronarius

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Tennessee gardens

Bigleaf hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in Tennessee gardens

Mountain hydrangea

Hydrangea serrata

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Tennessee gardens

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.