It looks like one I've got in my garden (it's absolutely huge but was already in the garden when we bought the house). Does it have little feet-type things on the underneath that it uses to cling to stuff? If it's the same one, I know it's a climbing hydrangea but what it's called I've no idea.

Hydrangea petiolaris? looks like my mine but much much bigger? I dont think its Hydrangea Seemannii?

2nd picture looks like Viburnum plicatum 'Lanarth', not Hydrangea

Bamboo!

Thank you! You are absolutely right! I had been told it was a Hydrangea and have searched and searched and couldn't find which one - now I know why! I have searched images of Viburnum plicatum 'Lanarth' and this is definitely the plant.

Hurray! Thank you very, very much!

Alison

I can see why it could be mistaken for hydrangea from the flowers, but the leaves shout "Viburnum"!

Is the first picture the same plant as the 3rd pic then?

No, Drc, the 2nd picture is the same as the bottom one. They look quite different from the Hydrangea in the first one.

Thanks

oh Alison, you got there a bit late... it was just looking wonderful in full bloom I would say a week earlier... all I know it is plicatum... there is not enough labels in the gardens, but it's much better recently...

Thank you everyone for all your comments and help.

Bamboo is right, the 2nd and 3rd pictures are a Viburnum plicatum 'Lanarth' and the consensus was that the top one is the Hydrangaea petiolaris. I haven't been back to the gardens to check the little feet to see how it climbs. Thank you gain for your help and sorry about the confusing mix up of photographs. Alison