A small group of evergreen shrubby climbers. One species, H. viburnoides is readily available in the UK. Great for covering a wall, with its narrow dark green leaves. Come late summer to autumn it can be a froth of creamy-white flowers, which are very attractive to a wide range of insects.
As evergreen, self-clinging climbers, Pileostegia species provide useful structure in shady areas for birds to nest and roost in, and in late summer when the frothy flowers emerge, they attract bees, flies and a whole range of other pollinators.
All Pileostegia plants have been renamed under Hydrangea.