Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea
quercifolia
Introduction
Oak-leaved Hydrangea has 8 to 12-inch-long
leaves shaped like oak leaves. They are borne
on stiff, upright, hairy stems which occasionally
branch. A fuller shrub can be created by
pinching the new growth or cutting back old
growth. The plant grows in sun or shade and
prefers a rich, moist soil. In the northern
part of its range, the top usually dies back
during the winter and it needs shelter from
high winds. Oak-Leaved Hydrangea transplants
easily and has a very coarse texture and
good red fall color. This sprawling, slow-growing
shrub reaches 6 to 10 feet tall and spreads
three to five feet. The flowers, produced
in midsummer in panicles, are at first white,
then fade to pink and then tan. If you wish
to prune this Hydrangea to create a dense
shrub, do so after it flowers so you can
enjoy the spectacular flower display.
General Information
Scientific name: Hydrangea quercifolia
Pronunciation: hye-DRAN-jee-uh kwur-sif-FOLE-ee-uh
Common name(s): Oak-Leaf Hydrangea
Family: Saxifragaceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 5B through 9
Planting month for zone 9: year round Spread:
6 to 8 feet
Origin: native to Florida Plant habit: upright;
round
Uses: mass planting; specimen; screen; accent
Plant density: moderate
Availability: generally available in many areas
within its
Growth rate: fast Description
Texture: coarse
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite
Leaf type: simple Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly
showy; typically multi-
Leaf margin: ciliate; serrate
Leaf shape: ovate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: 8 to 12 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: purple
Fall characteristic: showy
Flower
Flower color: pink
Flower characteristic: summer flowering; spring
flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: less than .5 inch
Fruit cover: dry or hard
Fruit color: brown
Fruit characteristic: persists on the plant
Trunk and Branches
trunked or clumping stems
Current year stem/twig color: brown
Current year stem/twig thickness: thick
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: occasionally wet; clay; sand;
acidic; slightly alkaline; loam
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: poor
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: sprouts from roots or lower trunk
Winter interest: plant has winter interest due
to unusual form, nice persistent fruits, showy
winter trunk, or winter flowers.
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental
features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally
seen on the plant
Use and Management
Because of their size, most residential landscapes
only need one or two of these plants. Especially
attractive at the edge of woods or other
natural settings, Oak-Leaf Hydrangea likes
fertile, acid, well-drained soil, and requires
no attention once it becomes established.
It makes a nice accent in a shrub border
or growing out of a ground cover. Available
cultivars include: ‘Snow Queen’,
large, pure white blooms maturing to pink; ‘Snow
Flake’, large double flowers; and ‘Harmony’ with
12-inch-long, heavy white flower clusters.
Propagation is by seed, cuttings, or separation
of the suckers which develop at the base
of the plant. Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases are of major concern.
by Edward F. Gilman
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