Hydrangea seemannii

This evergreen self clinging climber has white lace cap type scented flowers in summer, the buds are quite extraordinary and resemble duck eggs (most un hydrangea like!) young foliage has copper tones the older leaves are leathery dark green, all in all its a very attractive plant. It tolerates cold reasonably well, but not cold wind, so its OK for shady or north walls only if they are not exposed (when evergreen becomes evertatty! )

Introduced to the nursery trade in Britain by Neil Tressider of Truro in the 1980's from Mexico. There are now several flowering specimens of Hydrangea seemanii in Cornwall and it is starting to be more widely planted.