Growing Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia

Add year round interest to your landscape with oakleaf hydrangea. This is just one of the hydrangeas that inspired National Garden Bureau to name 2020 the Year of the Hydrangea.

This woodland species is native to southeastern United States and hardy in zone 5 to 9. White flowers appear in late spring or early summer then turn purplish-pink and eventually brown. The deep green oak leaf shaped leaves turn shades of orange, red and purple in the fall. And the cinnamon brown bark eventually exfoliates, adding winter interest to the landscape.

Grow oakleaf hydrangea in moist, rich, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Plants perform best with afternoon shade in warmer regions and new plantings benefit from winter protection in zone 5. Flower buds may be killed in cold winters, but the other features make it garden worthy.

A bit more information: You will find varieties from 2 to more than 8-feet tall. These plants need minimal pruning, but if you must, do so right after flowering to avoid eliminating next year’s blooms.