Hydrangea anomala Winter Surprise- Climbing Hydrangea

Plant in spring or early autumn, preferably in a slightly shaded location, for example against an east-facing wall, or even to the north. It does not require ericaceous soil, but appreciates deep, moist, fairly fertile soil, possibly enriched with a good base fertiliser before planting. If planting near a wall and the soil is dry at its base, place the root ball at least 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) away from it and incorporate a quantity of well-decomposed compost to better retain moisture in the soil. Very hardy, it can be planted in cold regions. It requires little pruning. However, after flowering, you can shorten the stems that are too long, and remove any dead wood. Guide the young stems onto the support to distribute them well. They will then attach themselves.

Like all climbing hydrangeas, 'Winter Surprise' will grow slowly for the first two years, but it will speed up.