Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-DRAN-jee-ah kwer-sih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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Oakleaf hydrangea is an upright, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub in the Hydrangeaceae (hydrangea) family. While this family of flowering shrubs is widely distributed in Asia and North America, this particular plant is native to the Southeastern United States, where it prefers moist woods and stream banks. It may grow to 8 feet in height and 6 to 8 feet in width. The plant’s genus name comes from the Greek word hydor, meaning water, and aggeion, meaning vessel, which refers to the fruit capsule. The species name indicates the resemblance of its leaves to that of the oak tree (Quercus).
Oakleaf hydrangea grows best in organically rich, well-drained soils with medium moisture. It does well in full sun to part shade, and mulch in the summer helps to keep the soil moist. The plant does need some sun to bloom, usually from mid spring to early summer. Because blooming occurs on old wood, prune if needed immediately after flowering. Winter damaged stems may be pruned in early spring.
The white blooms are arranged in pyramidal clusters that are very showy. Even when not in bloom, the large dark green leaves provide a striking shape. The plant’s more mature branches have an interesting texture when exfoliated in winter.
Oakleaf hydrangea’s unique features make it highly suitable as a specimen or accent plant in the landscape. Alternatively, in large open spaces it may be massed or arranged as an informal hedge.
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
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and spider mites are occasional visitors. Some susceptibility to leaf blight and powdery mildew.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Collector’s Garden Michael McCarthy Memorial Garden, All Saints Episcopal, Concord Shade Garden Hydrangeas in the Garden Sun and Shade Demo Garden, Buncombe County Cottage Style Foundation Planting Woodland Walk Native/ Woodland Garden Wild Side - A Shady Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Alice'
- 'Brido'
- 'Ellen Huff'
- 'Harmony'
- 'Ice Crystal'
- 'Munchkin'
semi-dwarf - 'Natl Arb'
- 'Pia'
- 'Ruby Slippers'
semi-dwarf - 'Ruby Slippers’
- '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
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. - 'Brido'
- 'Alice', 'Brido', 'Ellen Huff', 'Flemygea', 'Harmony' , 'Ice Crystal', 'Little Honey', 'Munchkin', 'Natl Arb', 'Pee Wee', 'Pia', 'Ruby Slippers', 'Ruby Slippers’, 'Sikes Dwarf', 'Sikes Dwarf', 'Snowflake', 'Snow Queen'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Alice'
- 'Brido'
- 'Ellen Huff'
- 'Harmony'
- 'Ice Crystal'
- 'Munchkin'
semi-dwarf - 'Natl Arb'
- 'Pia'
- 'Ruby Slippers'
semi-dwarf - 'Ruby Slippers’
- '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
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. - 'Brido'
- 'Alice', 'Brido', 'Ellen Huff', 'Flemygea', 'Harmony' , 'Ice Crystal', 'Little Honey', 'Munchkin', 'Natl Arb', 'Pee Wee', 'Pia', 'Ruby Slippers', 'Ruby Slippers’, 'Sikes Dwarf', 'Sikes Dwarf', 'Snowflake', 'Snow Queen'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hydrangea
- Species:
- quercifolia
- Family:
- Hydrangeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern USA
- 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:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- 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:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Noted for producing showy pyramidal 4-12" erect panicles of creamy white flowers in late spring and 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. Blooming begins in May and June and last throughout the summer.
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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:
- 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
- Dry Soil
