HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS VAR. STERILIS TORR. AND GRAY 
AS AN ORNAMENTAL PLANT. 
Dayip M. Morrier. 
From time to time during the past twenty years, members of the botanical 
staff of Indiana University have pointed out to students the very showy 
and conspicuous specimens of the sterile form of Hydrangea arborescens L., 
to be found occasionally among the fertile plants of the species which grow 
abundantly on rocky banks, in shaded ravines and along streams in Monroe 
County, Indiana. These sterile specimens are very conspicuous because of 
the large, showy, snow-white flower clusters, in which not a single fruit is 
developed. Upon plants in their native habitat in the woods, the clusters 
of cymes often attain, in thrifty individuals, a diameter of from six to eight 
inches. Owing to their promising character as ornamental plants, and be- 
cause of hardiness, specimens of sterile individuals were transplanted to the 
grounds of a local gardener near the wniversity, where they have been under 
cultivation for a number of years. The plant is easily propagated from 
stem cuttings, and, in the second year, if pruned to a single cane or two, 
the clusters of flowers may attain a diameter of from fourteen to sixteen 
inches. For this reason, and because of the fact that sterile forms of Hyd- 
rangea arborescens are listed and offered for sale by florists under other 
names than Hydrangea arborescens var. sterilis Torr and Gray, the writer 
Fig. 1—Hydrangea arborescens var. sterilis. A clump transplanted when 
small from the woods to a blue grass lawn. It is three feet in diameter at the 
ground and bears about sixty-five large heads of flowers. (Courtesy of Mr. Hugh 
Hinkle.) 
became interested in the probable origin of the sterile form as it occurs in 
this vicinity, and to know whether the plant advertised under other names 
