Erect shrub to about 2 m tall. New growth hairy. Leaves to about 6-7 cm long with a short extended tip, becoming hairless above but with pressed-down hair below. Flowers 4-5 cm wide, white, mostly double, fragrant; summer.

P. insignis Carrière from W USA has leaves to 7-8 cm long, ovate to elliptic, entire or with a few inconspicuous teeth, lower leaf with hair flattened to surface. The flowers are in large clusters, the individual flowers grouped in 3s and 2.5-3.5 cm wide in summer.

Garden origin, raised by Lemoine, Nancy, France, in 1909 and int. under the cultivar name 'Virginal'.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Hydrangeaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.