Smooth Hydrangea

About this plant

Elevate your landscape with Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball®, a Proven Winners selection known for its exceptional hardiness and show-stopping blooms. This improved smooth hydrangea produces truly massive, rounded flower clusters that can reach up to 12 inches across, starting lime-green, maturing to brilliant white, and fading gracefully to jade green. Unlike its predecessors, Incrediball® boasts incredibly strong, sturdy stems that reliably support its enormous flowers, preventing them from flopping, even after heavy rain. This ensures a consistently spectacular display from early summer through fall, providing continuous beauty and structure to your garden beds or as a captivating specimen plant. Easy to grow and adaptable, Incrediball® thrives in a variety of conditions, making it a perfect choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Its native roots ensure excellent cold hardiness and a natural resistance to many common pests and diseases, guaranteeing a vibrant, low-maintenance show for years to come.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

For best results, plant in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Prune in late winter or early spring by cutting stems back by about one-third to encourage vigorous new growth and abundant flowering. A light application of balanced fertilizer in spring can boost performance. Deadheading is not necessary but can be done for aesthetic preference.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.