![]() Hardy throughout many parts of the country, they’re beautiful year round with stunning foliage, beautiful flowers and interesting bark. Indeed, oakleaf hydrangeas are a staple in my gardens. ![]() ‘Little Honey’ has golden foliage in the spring, changing to chartreuse then green with beautiful burgundy red fall color. ‘Pee Wee’ is a compact form growing about four feet high and three feet wide. Its creamy white blooms can get up to a foot long. ‘Snowflake’ is probably the most popular of the double flowered varieties. ‘Alice’ is a beautiful selection with single white flowers. This is another plus in my book because it means plants will keep looking and performing their best all year round without the need for any chemical intervention (always a last resort in my book). You will find that oakleaf hydrangeas are relatively pest and disease free. After that only cut short stems or you risk losing blooms for next year. If you are cutting the blossoms for flower arrangements you can cut longer stems before August. I like to leave the flowers on the plant to enjoy into the winter months. “Deadhead” old blossoms anytime by simply snipping them off. The following year’s flower buds are set in late summer and early fall. It can be used as a mass planting in shady woodland areas or as a specimen feature in the landscape.Īlthough pruning is rarely necessary, be sure to do so after blooming and before August. Plant it in moist, well-drained, acidic soil that has been amended with compost or other organic matter. This shrub tolerates drier soil than its mophead cousins but cannot stand wet feet. The greater the sun exposure the more prolific are the blooms and you’ll get the most spectacular fall color. It its more northern range it can be planted in full sun. Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom best where summers are hot but prefer some afternoon shade. The contrast against a white snowy blanket is stunning. In protected locations the leaves persist for a long period before falling to reveal an irregular branching structure of exfoliating bark in cinnamon shades. Individual florets can be single or double.Īlthough beautiful and lush throughout the spring and summer I look forward to the upcoming warm days and cool nights of October and November which turn the flowers red and the foliage into a myriad of yellow, orange, red, brown and burgundy shades. The blooms are primarily white, gradually developing a pink blush then turning red as the seasons change. It is hardy from zones 5-9.Ĭone shaped flowers can be as much as a foot long. The large, dark green leaves have silvery undersides and are shaped similarly to the Northern Red Oak from which it gets its common name. Hydrangea quercifolia is native to the United States, growing about six to eight feet tall and sometimes topping out at 10 to 12 feet. Once established it rewards me spring, summer, fall and winter. I like that because it saves me time, energy and money as well. The reason being this is a plant with four seasons of interest. Adaptable oakleaf hydrangeas provide year-round interest in the gardenĪsking me to choose my favorite plant is like asking which is my favorite child! A difficult question to answer, but since I’m not at risk to damaging fragile little egos, I’d have to say one of my favorite plants is the oakleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia).
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