Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-DRAN-jee-ah kwer-sih-FOH-lee-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Oakleaf Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub that may grow to 8 feet. It has 4- to 12-inch oakleaf-shaped leaves that are fuzzy when young. The leaves turn red or purple in the late fall. A pyramidal cluster of white blooms matures in the late spring and summer, turning purple with time. Tiny, dry seeds mature in the fall. This plants common name is in reference to the leaves that look like those of Quercus (oak).
The Oakleaf hydrangea is easily grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It needs some sun to bloom, it thrives in moist soils and appreciates a summer mulch which helps retain soil moisture. Bloom occurs on old wood. Prune if needed immediately after flowering (little pruning is usually needed). Winter damaged stems may be pruned in early spring. Plants should be given a sheltered location and winter protection (e.g., mulch, burlap wrap) in USDA Zone 5, particularly when not fully established. Plants can lose significant numbers of flower buds or die to the ground in harsh winters (temperatures below -10 degrees F), thus respectively impairing or totally destroying the bloom for the coming year.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: This plant has some susceptibility to leaf blight and powdery mildew. Aphids and spider mites are occasional visitors. Deer love to eat this plant.
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.
Quick ID Hints:
- unique, oak-shaped leaf
- reddish-brown exfoliating bark on adult plants
- panicles of white flowers turning pink, then brown
- imbricate, tomentose, brown buds - terminal largest
4-8' shrub, deciduous, upright, irregular shape
Needs moist, fertile, well-drained soil, should be mulched to provide cool (but not wet) root environment; sun or partial shade.
Blooms in May/June; blooms persist all summer; leaves turn red, rust, purple in fall and can last well into winter; no serious pest/disease problems; great specimen plant or in shrub border; tolerant of dry conditions and sandy soil.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Cottage Style Foundation Planting Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alice'
- 'Harmony'
- 'Munchkin'
semi-dwarf - 'Natl Arb'
- 'Pee Wee'
A compact form growing to about 3' to 4' tall and 4' to 5' wide. Panicles are 4" to 5" long and squat. Fall color is purple red. - 'Pia'
- 'Ruby Slippers'
semi-dwarf - 'Sikes Dwarf'
- 'Sikes Dwarf'
3' x 4' smaller leaves - 'Snowflake'
Double white flowers, 6-8 ft. Sterile flowers, making the panicles very showy; 12" to 15" long and can cause stems to flop over. - 'Snow Queen'
Cold hardy down to zone 5, 6' x 6' flowers remain erect
golden foliage - 'Alice'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alice'
- 'Harmony'
- 'Munchkin'
semi-dwarf - 'Natl Arb'
- 'Pee Wee'
A compact form growing to about 3' to 4' tall and 4' to 5' wide. Panicles are 4" to 5" long and squat. Fall color is purple red. - 'Pia'
- 'Ruby Slippers'
semi-dwarf - 'Sikes Dwarf'
- 'Sikes Dwarf'
3' x 4' smaller leaves - 'Snowflake'
Double white flowers, 6-8 ft. Sterile flowers, making the panicles very showy; 12" to 15" long and can cause stems to flop over. - 'Snow Queen'
Cold hardy down to zone 5, 6' x 6' flowers remain erect
golden foliage - 'Alice'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hydrangea
- Species:
- quercifolia
- Family:
- Hydrangeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- GA, FL, LA
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insects. Songbirds eat the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- The Oakleaf hydrangea is noted for producing showy pyramidal 4-12" erect panicles of creamy white flowers in summer, 3-4" wide. The fragrant flowers fade to pink, then tan in the fall. White, changing to pink, then brownish, 1-1 ½" diameter; larger, sterile flowers occur towards the base of the panicle, fertile flowers are creamy and fragrant and occur toward the tip.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Oakleaf hydrangea is clad with dark green, large, opposite, simple, bold, leathery 3-7 lobed, oak-like leaves. The leaves are fuzzy when young and grow to 3-8" long, 2-6" wide. Fall colors are wine, orange, mahogany. Opposite, simple, ovate in outline; lobes are serrate, sinus entire; medium to dark green and glabrous above, whitish-brown tomentose below; 1-2 ½" long petiole.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Papery
- Bark Description:
- Exfoliating branches with brown papery bark that reveals cinnamon-colored bark underneath especially as branches age .
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Upright stems with little branching. Stout; older plants have prominent lenticels and exfoliating cinnamon-brown bark; prominent, large leaf scars in inverted triangle shape. Imbricate, brownish, tomentose, 4-6 scales; terminal bud much larger than laterals.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
