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Oakleaf Hydrangeas for Year Round Interest
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Hydrangea quercifolia
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Hydrangea quercifolia Plant of Merit
The Oakleaf hydrangea is an upright, deciduous shrub with a broad, rounded habit that typically grows 4-6' tall. Features elongated, conical clusters (4-12" long) of fertile and sterile, white flowers which slowly turn pinkish purple with age. Long late spring to summer bloom period. Distinctive, deeply lobed, somewhat coarse, oak-like, deep green leaves (to 8" long) turn attractive shades of bronze, crimson or purple in autumn. Mature stems exfoliate to reveal a rich brown inner bark which is attractive in winter.
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Hydrangea quercifolia fall
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This low maintenance shrub prefers full sun to part shade best grown in fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soil. Mass or group in a mixed shrub border or naturalize in a native plant or open woodland garden. Also may be used for backgrounds, accents or specimens, foundation plantings or hedges.
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'Alice'
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Oak Leaf Hydrangea 'Alice'
'Alice' is an oakleaf hydrangea cultivar introduced into commerce by Michael Dirr through his Georgia Plant Introduction Program. This low maintenance, upright, deciduous shrub has a broad rounded habit which typically grows 5-8' tall and as wide (less frequently to 12' tall in optimum growing conditions). It is most noted for its large, arching flower panicles (10-14" long), its usually disease-free foliage and its superior fall color. Large pyramidal flower panicles feature mostly sterile white flowers in June which bloom for 6-8 weeks, gradually fading to pink and then brown by late summer. Distinctive, deeply-lobed, somewhat coarse, deep green, oak-like leaves (to 8" long) turn attractive shades of bronze, maroon and purple in autumn. Mature stems exfoliate to reveal a rich brown inner bark which is attractive in winter.
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Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee'
Pee Wee' is an oakleaf hydrangea cultivar which is most noted for its compact size (typically grows to 3-4' tall and 3' wide). It is an upright, deciduous shrub with a rounded habit. 'Pee Wee' differs from the species (see D380) in that it grows much smaller with smaller leaves and smaller flower panicles, and has a more restrained habit with less frequent suckering. Elongated, pyramidal panicles of mostly sterile flowers appear in early summer and bloom for 6-8 weeks. Flowers emerge white, gradually fade to pink and turn brown by late summer with good persistence of the brown seed panicles into winter. Distinctive, deeply-lobed, somewhat coarse, deep green, oak-like leaves (to 5" long) turn attractive shades of bronze, maroon and purple in autumn. Mature stems exfoliate to reveal a rich brown inner bark which is attractive in winter.
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'Pee Wee'
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'Snow Queen'
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Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'
This oakleaf hydrangea cultivar is an upright, deciduous shrub with a broad, rounded habit that typically grows 4-6' tall. Features elongated, conical clusters (4-12" long) of mostly sterile, white flowers which slowly turn pinkish purple with age. Long late spring to summer bloom period. Distinctive, deeply lobed, somewhat coarse, oak-like, deep green leaves (to 8" long) turn attractive shades of bronze, maroon or purple in autumn. Mature stems exfoliate to reveal a rich brown inner bark which is attractive in winter. This cultivar is very similar to the species (see H. quercifolia), except the flower panicles herein are showier (i.e., larger and more numerous sterile flowers) and the flower stems tend to be more rigid and thus more apt to remain erect even after soaking rains. The low maintenance Snow Queen prefers full to part shade and medium soil moisture.
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Hydrangea quercifoia 'Sykes Dwarf'
The 'Sykes' Dwarf' oakleaf hydrangea speak for themselves. They are stately plants, with white panicles, handsome leaves, and good form. That their foliage takes on jewel-toned hues in fall--and the bark and dried flowerheads add winter interest to the garden. They will grow 3 to 4' in height and spread 6 to 8 feet. Sykes Dwarf prefers to ben grown in part shade in average moist acidic soil. Use in borders, containers and mass plantings. It is almost too much to get from one shrub!.
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'Sykes Dwarf'
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