Hydrangea radiata is getting ready to flower in Fern Valley

The silver indumentum on the bottom of these leaves is almost the best part of this plant. The flowers are nice, but the leaves are super. The color is the result of thick matter hairs completely covering the undersurfaces of the leaves.

The particular plant that contributed this leaf is located where the path to the pond intersects Crabtree Road. It is budded heavily but not flowering yet. Others are scattered throughTout FV where their SE nativity makes them appropriate.

We saw Silverleaf hydrangea a lot on collecting trips in the mountains in Carolinas, Tennessee, and Alabama. Formerly considered a ssp of Hydrangea arborescens, it has a lacecap type inflorescence. The literature suggests that it can grow to 3M but I rarely saw a plant taller than I am.