 |
|
One of the
best landscape plants for use at the edge of woodlands,
groupings, mass plantings or in shrub borders. |
|
Round-mounded outline with interesting, vaguely Red
Oak-like leaves. |
|
Magnificent white flower panicles, often emphasized in
cultivars. |
|
In fall
leaves turn shades of red, orangish-brown and
burgundy-purple and may persist into December.
|
|
The
papery, tan to cinnamon-brown outer bark exfoliates in
delicate strips. |
|
Of the
Oakleaf Hydrangea cultivars, ‘Alice’ has flowers that
age to rosy pink; it grows to 12 feet high and 12 feet
wide. ‘Pee Wee’ is a 2 to 3 foot high compact form with
half-sized leaves and flowers. |
|
‘Snowflake’ and ‘Harmony’ have 12+ inch long, mainly
sterile inflorescences with multiple sepals that cause
weighted branches to bend down. |
|
‘Snow
Queen’ has large, showy white sepals that cover 8 inch
long, upright, mainly fertile panicles; fall color is
red-burgundy. |
|
References: Dir, Michael A. 1997. Dir’s
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon.
Dir, Michael A. 1990. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants,
4th ed. Stipes Publishing Company.
Champaign, Illinois. |
|
Alternate species and cultivars:
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’, H. q. ‘Harmony’, H. q. ‘Pee Wee’,
H. q. ‘Snowflake’, H. q. ‘Snow Queen’ |
|
|
at
a glance:
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Family:
Hydrangeaceae
Height/Spread: 4 to 6 feet high with a 4 to 6 foot spread
Common Name:
Oakleaf
Hydrangea
Leaves:
Dark green and glabrous above, whitish to brownish tomentum on
underside, 3 to 8 inches long, ovate to suborbirular with 3 to 7
broad lobes, with serrated edges
Flowers: White,
changing to purplish pink and finally brown. 1 to 1 ½ inch outer
flowers sterile, ½ inch inner flowers fertile, borne in 4 to 12
inch long erect panicles
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, requires moist,
fertile, well-drained soil. Mulch to maintain a cool, moist root
environment. Stems and buds may be injured if winter temperatures
drop to –10 degrees F
Disease/pests:
Leaf
blight
Bloom Period:
Late June through July
Natural Range: Georgia, Florida and Mississippi
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness
: Zone 5 to 9
Accession:#93-299
Location: Waterwise
Garden/ |
