Decumaria barbara (Wood Vamp)

Also called a climbing Hydrangea vine, this Eastern U.S. native plant can easily be confused with Hydrangea anomola ssp. petiolaris when seen in the garden.  The flowers though are fragrant and very 'fuzzy' looking because of the numerous stamens.  Incredibly glossy, dark green leaves do well in both shade and sun, as a groundcover or climbing vine, and in wet or standard moisture levels in the garden.  In the wild it is found growing near ravines and creeks.  Yew Dell has a fine specimen located in the Sunken Rock Garden which these plants were propagated from.