PlantFiles: Mountain Hydrangea
Hydrangea serrata 'Acuminata'

True 'Acuminata' is a slender shrub up to 3 feet, with large green fertile flowers, only sparsely surrounded by lilac ray-flowers, the corymbs are small, and the leaves are pointed.

According to the authors of "Encyclopedia of Hydrangeas" C.J. and D.M. Van Gelderen (2004 - Timber Press), there is much confusion whether 'Intermedia' is identical to 'Acuminata' as can be seen in French nurseries. Plants grown in European nurseries are most probably not the original 'Acuminata', which was introduced by Siebold as a species. Haworth-Booth named this taxon H.japonica 'Intermedia' thus creating the confusion. They suggest that perhaps the taxon no longer exists in Europe.

From Prof. Dirr's description of this plant in his "Hydrangeas for American Gardens," it appears that what is thought of as this cultivar is - as in Europe - no longer the true form.

Dirr's description of 'Acuminata' is: "flat medium green crinkled leaves come to a narrow point; stems are red speckled; good autumn color on seedlings. 3-3-1/2' tall by 3-3-1/2' wide. Sepals heavily serrate, pointed 3s(4s); facing downward and showing green reverse after pollination. Flowers early to mid-summer. Blue sterile & fertile flowers (acid soil), white aging to pink in alkaline." This varies greatly when compared to the flower color description in the original plant.