Plant guide
Smooth hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Smooth hydrangea is toxic to cats. Eating it can cause vomiting, diarrhea and subdued behavior.
What this guide covers: This guide covers Hydrangea arborescens. It does not apply its pruning advice to every hydrangea.
Photo:
Photo details
Hydrangea arborescens — NC State Extension image 5085
By Elsa Spezio
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Plant shopping
Explore this plant
Photo:
Photo details
Hydrangea arborescens — NC State Extension image 5085
By Elsa Spezio
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Incrediball hydrangea
View on Amazon — Incrediball hydrangea; paid link; opens in a new tabPaid link · Opens in a new tab
Keep away from cats. We do not recommend this plant for a home where cats could reach it.
Explore non-toxic plants →A little paw-note: We may earn a commission when you buy through these links. This helps us keep building and helps Nico & Larry sustain their lavish kitty lifestyle.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Look for Hydrangea arborescens and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Hydrangea arborescens
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Hydrangeaceae
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
Find the right spot
How to grow this plant
This guide covers Hydrangea arborescens. It does not apply its pruning advice to every hydrangea.
- Light
- Some direct sun
Partial shade; full sun requires consistent moisture.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Keep the soil consistently moist, with good drainage.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
No preferred temperature range established; outdoor hardiness is not an indoor temperature recommendation.
- Humidity
No specific humidity target established.
- Potting
- Neutral to acidic, well-drained soil.
- Through the year
- Flowers form on new growth. Prune in late winter and remove weak or damaged stems in early spring.
Growing-guide sources
- Hydrangea arborescens ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-15
This guide covers Hydrangea arborescens. It does not apply its pruning advice to every hydrangea.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-15. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Severity
- Severity not established
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Smooth hydrangea: toxic and non-toxic plants ↗ASPCA · Accessed
Safety last reviewed .