General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Plant Height: 3 - 4 feet
Plant Spread: 3 - 4 feet
Leaves: Deciduous
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Blooms on new wood
Other: Continuous bloom or rebloomer
Flower Color: Pink
Other: Color not affected by soil pH.
Bloom Size: 6"-12"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Cut Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Pollinators: Bees
Miscellaneous: Patent/Plant Breeders' Rights: PP20,765; PBR4,159

Image
Trade name information:
Series: Invincibelle®
Trade Name: Spirit
Cultivar name: 'NCHA1'
Common names
  • Smooth Hydrangea
  • Hydrangea

Photo Gallery
Location: Maine
Date: 2014-07-17
Location: Maine
Date: 2014-07-17
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-06-18
Location: My Garden
Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2022-07-27
Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens Invincibelle® Spirit) bu
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-06-18
Location: Poland
Date: 2022-06-02
Still in a pot but already beautiful and growing faster than expe
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-07-02
Location: My garden, Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens in South Amana, IA
Date: 2012-06-14
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2014-07-28
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2013-07-19
First blooms on a new plant.  They open lighter pink than I expec
Location: Mount Cuba Center, Hockessin, Delaware
Date: 2018-06-29
specimen in bloom in trial garden
Location: Steinkopf  Nursery, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2011-06-30
Location: Steinkopf  Nursery, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2011-06-30
Location: Steinkopf  Nursery, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2011-06-30
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-07-17

Date: 2013-09-26
Location: Hidden Hills CA
Date: 2013-04-14
Bareroot ready to plant/pot
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-07-02
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2014-07-28
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2014-08-12
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2013-07-19
New growth is green and flexible, while older stems are woody.
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2013-07-19
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2013-07-19
Cluster of buds.
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2013-07-18
Newly planted gallon-sized plant.  It seems to be thriving in its
Location: In my Northern California garden
Date: 2012-11-06
Location: Steinkopf  Nursery, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2011-06-30
Location: Steinkopf  Nursery, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2011-06-30

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-07-17

Date: 2013-09-26

Date: 2013-09-26

Date: 2013-09-26

   Photo Courtesy of Hydrangea Farm Nursery Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by vic
Comments:
  • Posted by goldfinch4 (Ripon, Wisconsin) on Jul 9, 2012 12:29 PM concerning plant:
    Prefers moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate some drought once established. Will often rebloom. The first pink-flowered 'Annabelle' hydrangea. $1.00 from each plant sale is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
  • Posted by BookerC1 (Mackinaw, IL - Zone 5a) on Aug 25, 2014 3:00 PM concerning plant:
    This is a smaller hydrangea, reaching about 3-4 feet tall and wide at maturity. This one benefits from some deliberate pinching back of the growth tips of each branch the first few years, as it tends to grow very leggy and flop onto the ground otherwise. Some careful shaping when immature will help develop strong "bones" to shape the plant. Mine blooms throughout the summer, aging from pale pink to a dark rose color. Mine is in nearly full shade, and is thriving.
  • Posted by frankrichards16 (Clinton, Michigan - Zone 5b) on Feb 25, 2018 8:27 AM concerning plant:
    Hydrangea arborescent 'NCHA1' was developed by Thomas G. Ranney as a collaborative project between NC State University and Spring Meadow Nursery at the Mountain Crop Improvement Lab™. It is marketed as 'Invincibelle® Spirit' and is one of the first pink flowering smooth hydrangeas (PP20765, ~2010). It is commonly referred to as a pink version of 'Annabelle.' Cultivars Invincibelle® Spirit II and Invincibelle® Ruby followed in 2017.

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