Hydrangea quercifolia
You may already know of those fabulously gusty and downy hydrangea , bursting with blue and purplish blooms .
But do you bonk about their less showy , yet just as magical sister , the oakleaf hydrangea ?
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Lemme severalise ya , family line – Hydrangea quercifoliais the perfect plant for those who ’ve stand in front of an oak tree diagram , taken in its massive majesty and splendor , and thought to themselves , “ I wish well this was more like a shrub , and with prettier flowers . ”
Okay , maybe the foliage aren’texactlyalike … but it ’s fairly dang close , if you necessitate me .
And when you add exfoliating barque and beautiful blooms to the admixture , you ’ve get yourself a shrub that arguably make the entireQuercusgenus a run for its money , aesthetics - overbold .
In this guide , we ’ll go over everything you require to fuck for proper oakleaf hydrangea finish , and more .
By its remainder , you ’ll sympathize why this plant is one of our favorite shrubs for adding seasonal interest and simple elegance to the garden .
Here ’s the travel plan :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Oakleaf Hydrangeas?
Known botanically asHydrangea quercifolia , the oakleaf hydrangea is a blossom deciduous woody shrub that ’s aboriginal to the southeastern realm of the United States .
It ’s often found growing in ravine , on bluff , in dampish timberland , and along stream banking company .
With a hardiness range of USDA zone 5 to 9 , the industrial plant can reach out heights of four to 10 feet , with an approximately adequate spread .
Right off the bat , you ’ll discover that the oakleaf hydrangea flaunt leafage which resemble that of a stereotypical oak , which are strikingly different from the rounded leafage of otherHydrangeaspecies .
The deep green , Quercus - same leaves add a rough-cut foliar texture to garden blank space and string the eye with their alone shape throughout much of the year .
The gorgeous shades of cherry , orange , yellow , and purple that the leafage exhibit from fall until wintertime are an added incentive that ca n’t be push aside .
Long , graceful , panicled flowers with level top are a earmark feature of this species .
The elbow room they change people of color is quite the experience – starting off greenish - bloodless , they suppurate to an entirely snowy hue , afterward sweep up purple to pink colors , and then eventually work an attractive brown .
The pointed , conelike shape of oakleaf hydrangea bloom contrasts with most other hydrangea blossom , which tend to rock a more rounded form .
Additionally , oakleaf hydrangea flush don’tchange color due to soil pH change like other hydrangea do .
After pollination by insects , the flowers give way to small inconspicuous fruit capsules , which persist on the industrial plant throughout the dormant time of year . Afterwards , they open to release their come .
As the plant mature , the bark begins to peel , which make exceptional winter interest once the leaves have fall .
The way that the exfoliating bark peels away to expose the brown to reddish - orange colored stem tissue underneath may prompt you a bit of a paperbark maple .
A Note of Caution
The flowers , leaf , and bark of oakleaf hydrangeas containhydrangin , a mildly toxic cyanogenetic glycoside .
Do not ingest any part of this plant life , as it may cause sickness , emesis , and other symptom .
Cultivation and History
consider it or not , Native American Cherokees used oakleaf hydrangeas for medicinal function .
Scrapings of the bark were used to make a cataplasm to plow burns , a tea made from the leaves was used to induce disgorgement , and a teatime was make from the roots to address kidney stones and other urinary disease .
Herbal traditional knowledge passed down through the generations in the mountains of western North Carolina further suggest a recall utilization of the oakleaf hydrangea to “ burst up stone . ”
First give away by the American plant scientist John Bartram , the oakleaf hydrangea was later name and instance by his son William , who published the findings from his exploration of the southern British colony in his 1791 book , “ Bartram ’s Travels . ”
William described oakleaf hydrangea as a new species , and he nominate it with the unique , unusual leaves that he see in mind . “ Quercus ” denotes oaks , and “ folium ” is the Latin word for parting .
H. quercifoliais the state wildflower of Alabama , and can be find spring up naturally throughout the nation .
In the former - to - mid-20th century , breeders first began producing cultivar from the metal money plant .
‘ Snow Queen ’ and ‘ Pee Wee ’ were created betimes in the 1900s , and were used afterwards as parent plants in a genteelness broadcast that began in 1996 at the US National Arboretum ’s work site in McMinnville , Tennessee .
According to Agricultural Research Service geneticistDr . Sandra Reed , the end of the programme was to create heavyset cultivar for use in residential gardens .
As a result , young semi - dwarf cultivars such as ‘ Ruby Slippers ’ and ‘ Munchkin ’ have since become pop favorites in many field .
Oakleaf Hydrangea Propagation
quick to grow some oakleaf hydrangea ? You ’ve got plenty of options for begin out – you’re able to sow germ , take cuttings , apply layering , or simply transplant an acquire specimen .
From Seed
The oakleaf hydrangea is easily propagated from seed , and should germinate in less than two weeks after planting . Having aver that , spread plant is n’t just about sprouting .
Oakleaf cultivars and hybrids produce workable source , but their seeds will not grow exact clones of the parent works like a cutting would .
As such , seed are not readily useable to buy . If you still wish to give seed sowing a shot , it ’s best to collect dried cum head from existing plant life in previous fall or other wintertime .
fulfil a six - cellular phone come - starting tray with a tried and true seed starting medium , such as a 50:50 mixture of sphagnum moss peat moss and perlite .
Six - jail cell CowPots
CowPots are a nice , biodegradable option that makes transplantation easy . These are available as six - cell traysfrom Arbico Organics .
semen may be sow in indoors about two to four week before the last frost date for your surface area .
Sow three to five cum per cell , just below the surface of the potting culture medium , and place them in an area where they will invite indirect light indoors .
Seeds may also be sown outdoors after the last frost engagement in your area .
Sowing straight into a prepared bed consisting of well drained , organically ample dirt may be slightly less effective than start seminal fluid indoors , but you may still have some luck with scattering the seeds by hand , rake them gently into the soil , and then watering them in .
Continue to keep the soil moist . When seedlings grow their second set of leaves , they should be thin to one seedling per electric cell .
If you detest this part , you could also give sowing just one seed per cell a snap , with no thinning required .
Indoor seedling must be hardened off before transpose in bound . To do so , leave them outdoors in fond shade for 30 to 60 minutes before bring them back inside .
Each following solar day , add an extra half to a full hour of picture time until they can pass a full day out of doors .
you could expect seedling to take about seven months to one year to graduate from cellphone pack into two - Imperial gallon containers – make certain to repot as take .
plant in two - Imperial gallon container are normally ready for transplant into the ground by early to mid - declension of the planting year or early spring of the following class . For the latter , bring them back inside for the winter .
Read more about pull in and planting hydrangea ejaculate here .
From Cuttings
The oakleaf hydrangea can be difficult to propagate from cutting off , but not impossible . The method is similar to what you might do with other hydrangea case .
To ensure the best chance of rooting , the film editing should be taken from late spring to former summertime , which is the elemental growth period for this specie .
Cuttings take later than this loosely have a very scurvy rate of root growth .
Take four- to six - column inch cutting with a abrupt and sterile blade , defoliate their bottom half , and dunk their cut ends into a rooting hormone such as this IBA powder from Bonide that’savailable via Arbico Organics .
Bonide Bontone II Rooting Powder
Transfer each cut into a four- to six - inch container that ’s filled with a 50:50 mixture of peat moss and perlite .
Moisten the media , and provide the cuttings with collateral light . Keep the mass medium moist . Rooting should have take place by about the six- to eight - calendar week scratch .
Repot as need , and your cuttings should be ready to indurate off and transplant in early on to mid - fall the following give .
pick up to grow hydrangea from press clipping in our guide .
Via Layering
For a more dogfight - innocent and hands - off coming , these shrub are easily circularise using a proficiency hollo ground layering . Ideally , you do this in spring or early summer .
Because the branch are often low - growing , you’re able to well place the lower branches in touch with the soil and immerse a portion to encourage theme formation .
ensure to remove the leaves of the inter portion , and make a little notch in the ramification to promote root .
You may need to secure it with a horticultural staple or set a weight on part of the ramification to see to it its continuous inter-group communication with the soil .
Save for keeping the soil around the buried branch moist , permit the area to remain undisturbed throughout the following six- to eight - workweek rooting period .
Then , the new ringer can be cut from the “ mother ” plant with pruners , and transplanted to your select location .
From Seedlings/Transplanting
In early spring or early to mid - fall , select partially shaded planting sites of fertile , well - enfeeble land with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 .
Space your sites about as far away as you expect your oakleaf hydrangea to spread at matureness .
For each site , jab a hole that ’s as deep as your transplanting ’s root system , and just a bit wider .
bump off the transplantation from their container , lower them into the holes , then backfill said hole with the dug - out soil .
Feel spare to add an organic cloth such ascompostor well - rotted manure to the dug - out soil beforehand for some supply fertility .
Water in the transplants , and keep their surrounding soils moist for a year or so until they become more established .
How to Grow Oakleaf Hydrangeas
quick to cultivate your young oakleaf hydrangea as they mature into glorious adulthood , and beyond ? Then read on .
Climate and Exposure Needs
Do you have a garden in USDA zone 5 to 9 with a spot that receives morning sunlight and good afternoon shade ? If so , you may have the stark spot for mature an oakleaf hydrangea .
Because these awe-inspiring beauties can bloom in full shade – unlike other types of hydrangea that need at least three hours of sun per day to bloom well – the suspicious smear in your garden can be enough for unfolding . In zone 5 to 6 , full sun is tolerable , while you should stick with more shade in Zones 7 to 9 .
Soil Needs
Other than some rankness , drain , and a pH reach of 6.0 to 7.5 , there are n’t really any particular soil necessity for these plants .
For school the rich and organic soil thatH. quercifolialoves , work an inch or two of constitutive topic into the source geographical zone each spring is very helpful .
Water and Fertilizer Needs
Once your oakleaf hydrangeas are established , they should incur water whenever the top few in of soil dry out .
If you bond a fingerbreadth deep in the territory and do n’t experience moisture , then you should make with the irrigation .
They are very tolerant of moist areas , and can be placed in location many other character of flora would find too smashed .
However , they do not like incessantly sitting in standing water for long period , so do n’t go too crazy with the tearing .
On the other end of the moisture spectrum , oakleaf hydrangea will permit drier conditions than many other hydrangeas do , so do n’t accentuate out too much if you forget to pee one mean solar day , or even for a few weeks .
But if the leave-taking look wilted or droopy at all times – not just in extreme summer heat or lineal Sunday , but beyond the hottest power point in the twenty-four hour period as well – then your oakleaf may be hungry .
It ’s right to fertilize once every month from May to July , while the shrub are actively blooming .
Fertilize just around the “ drip mold line , ” or the perimeter of the leaf canopy . Do n’t place plant food too near to the stem , or it can burn the works .
Espoma Plant - Tone Fertilizer
Espoma Plant - Tone all - intent fertilizer is an constitutive , gritty , slow - release product with a 5 - 3 - 3 NPK ratio that ’s suited for use on a variety of plant in the garden .
It ’s usable via Amazon .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
Do you need a plant that needs very little alimony , and looks even well when you do n’t prune it ?
Then look no further , because these tops humiliated - maintenance shrubs need very little pruning .
In former springtime before the prime of raw ontogenesis , sense free to prune back your shrubs if you call for to keep them contained .
Make your cuts just above a leaf node to advance increment from those buds , and off no more than a third of the shrub ’s total aboveground mass in one go .
Any beat , discredited , or diseased tissues can be pruned whenever .
Deadheading one-time bloomsby cut just below the flower in the autumn after bloom final stage , when the flower heads are drying out or fully dry , can improve the overall coming into court of the plant life .
Mulch can be apply in summertime , to help oneself retain moisture .
Try adding a couple inch offallen fall leavesor coarse pine barque mulch every year or two to prevent wet loss and give the landscape a more polished look .
Take care to pass on about two inches of unmulched blank space around the perimeter of the main proboscis or root word to prevent rot .
Oakleaf Hydrangea Cultivars to Select
In addition to the received mintage – which can be purchased in one - gallon containersfrom Home Depot – cultivar are available in a range of bloom coloring , mature plant sizes , and growth habit .
Let ’s take a looking at at a few of the top pickax .
Alice
If you ’re in the market for a big ol’ oakleaf hydrangea cultivar , ‘ Alice ’ can get hold of a rattling verticalness of 15 fundament tall , making it more like a small tree than a shrub .
Its 12 - in clean to pinkish - red panicle blooming are pretty honkin ’ in sizing , too . It ’s also super passably when the sunlight stream through its orangish , red , and yellow leaves in capitulation .
‘ Alice ’ makes a beautiful specimen planting for creating a focal point in the garden .
One can be used alone in the centre of a garden bed , surrounded by other shade - loving shrubs such asIlliciumandazaleas .
Just verify you have enough space usable for this one to grow into .
‘ Alice ’
‘ Alice ’ is available in # 3 containersfrom Nature Hills Nursery .
Pee Wee
Hoping to discover a mixed bag that ’s a number on the smaller side ?
‘ Pee Wee ’ is a densely branch , mounded , and heavyset oakleaf which typically reaches heights and spread of two to three feet , although it ’s capable of growing a bit larger .
Compared to other oakleaf miscellanea , this cultivar is well - know for its very small flowers and leaves – the latter of which hold a gorgeous burgundy hue from fall well into wintertime – and its loosely pyramidal form work beautifully when place at the front of a assorted border bed .
‘ Pee Wee ’
This cultivar is useable for purchasefrom Nature Hills Nursery .
Snowflake
Need something bigger than the lil ’ ‘ Pee Wee ’ but smaller than the giant ‘ Alice ’ variety ?
‘ snowbird ’ is a mid - sized beauty that reach summit and spread of about seven to eight feet .
It flaunts laboured , swag , and graceful clusters of clean flowers that mature to a charming sonant pink .
This cultivar can be used in mixed mete bed and raft planting to save maximum impact in the landscape .
industrial plant three to five of these about five understructure asunder or so , then fill in around the shrubs with perennials likehostas , heuchera , and other shade - have it off perennial .
Managing Pests and Disease
gratefully , the oakleaf hydrangea is significantly less susceptible to common wellness issues than other hydrangeas . Even so , they may still fall quarry to sure pests and pathogen .
Here are the independent culprits to keep an middle out for :
Herbivores
Deerare a major trouble for these plants , so heads up . “ Bambi ” fans , you ’ll have to put aside your warmness and see these cervid as the enemy for a tick .
Deer absolutelyloveto eat the leaves , often to the point of total foliar wipeout . If give the prospect , they ’ll exhaust every single leaf off a plant overnight .
But you’re able to dissuade them by using production that containgarlic , stress outour lead for maintain cervid out of the garden , orinstalling a deer fence .
If you do n’t have or need to build a fencing , plant them in an orbit where the animals might not be as eager to stop and snack , such as a shadowy eminent - dealings area close to the back deck of cards or porch .
Deer are rarely audacious enough to jeopardize that unaired to the house , as long as it ’s a place that you visit regularly .
Insects
As potential vectors of various diseases , insects should be managed with the utmost prejudice . permit ’s go over some likely nuisances .
As translucent and soft - bodied as they are annoying , aphids are a common foeman of the gardener .
With their thrust - suck mouthparts , they take up full of life plant juices with the vim of a eternal sleep - impoverish Gen Z’er slurp down their overprice iced coffee .
As you’re able to believably guess , this does n’t leave the plant better off .
Additionally , these pestis excrete honeydew melon as they feed , which is n’t as sweetened as it sounds .
Often collect on plant tissues , honeydew can promote the growing ofblack sooty mold , which amount with a innkeeper of subaltern health problems .
Aphids can be physically knock off the plant with substantial sprays of water , as well as suffocate with spraying of horticultural oil colour .
Monterey Horticultural Oil
Monterey offer organic horticultural oil in various volume of ready - to - spray feeding bottle and concentratesavailable from Arbico Organics .
Consult our usher to battle aphids for more entropy .
These shiny green and bronze pests are another notorious garden pestis .
After the accidental institution ofPopillia japonicato the States , they ’ve observe real meddlesome with feeding , sexual union , and being totally irritating .
The main symptom of an plague is chewed - upon leaves , sometimes to the stop of being skeletonized . But they ’re warm to fee on flowers and fruits , too .
When you first note these plague , you’re able to handpick them and knock them into a bucket of soapy water , or spray them with insecticidal scoop .
dawn and evenings are the right times to strike , as that ’s when the beetles are at their most sluggish .
Bonide Insecticidal Soap
Find 12- and 32 - oz. nursing bottle of ready - to - nebuliser insecticidal soapfrom Bonide at Arbico Organics .
Read more about controlling Japanese beetle here .
Spider soupcon are itty - bitty arachnoid that can be tough to spot with the raw eye . chance are , you ’ll find the webs they waver before you in reality spot the pests .
Similarly to aphid , spider mites extract vital plant fluids from leaves , which can weaken the leafage and the plant as a whole .
Strong spray of water serve as an effective manikin of control , along with applications of horticultural oil or insecticidal soaps .
determine more about notice and check spider mite infestations in our guide .
Disease
In ecumenical , H. quercifoliais moderately resilient in the fact of most diseases , but there are some you should in spades keep an oculus out for .
For a general refresher , feel free to consultour guide to identify and treating hydrangea disease .
Caused byXanthomonas campestrisbacteria , this disease result in dark , ruddy - empurpled folio spots that can commingle into bombastic patches in sentence .
Whether in blot or spell form , these symptoms take up worthful photosynthetic genuine acres , which negatively affects emergence and maturation .
This disease spread via splashing water system , so it ’s important to avoid overhead watering and apply pee flat to the ancestor zone alternatively .
to boot , refrain from planting specimens too close together , as that can promote bacterial bedcover .
foliage heavily afflict with bacterial position should be removed and destroyed .
Powdery mildew ’s flagship symptom is a white powder that develops on the surface of leaves , which can stunt growth and pull up stakes the foliage look inaesthetic and kinda gross .
The causal fungusErysiphe polygoniis likely to spread in humid and wet condition , so avoid overhead watering and adequately space out plants .
Rake up and dispose of fallen leavesand branch , too . When quickly applied at the first augury of disease , fungicides can help to control it .
Read more about homemade and constitutive curative for powdery mildew in our guide .
When plant roots receive too much water supply – or rather , not enough O – they can cursorily become necrotic , which can make big - time issue with the aboveground shoots as well .
It ’s super authoritative to not overwater your oakleaf hydrangea while also providing enough drainage . If one or both of those ingredients is missing , then you ’ll be impart with a soggy , mushy root system .
If you mistrust root hogwash , then you’re able to dig up and cut away the rotted roots , along with a symmetrical amount of shoot tissue paper .
If the majority of the root are molder , then the plant ’s fortune is n’t too bright – too - far - gone specimens should be pitched .
Best Uses of Oakleaf Hydrangea
Whether planted as single specimen , en masse , or in a mixed border , these lovely shrub can be utilized in a change of way throughout the landscape painting .
A unmarried large works can make a liberal impact . prefer a larger cultivar like ‘ Alice ’ for a spectacular presentation of rosiness , or plant several to create an evenlargerfocal period !
Mid - size cultivars such as ‘ Snowflake ’ make for super innovation plants in a mixed boundary line layer .
Try combine oakleaf hydrangea with othershade - bang perennialsfor a sensational and spectacular showing !
The blooms may be used to create bold and breathtaking flowered arrangement , whether cut unfermented or dry . These long - lasting reminders of summertime ’s luster can really brighten indoor spaces .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Don’t Snub This Shrub
As William Bartram write , H. quercifoliais truly “ a very singular and beautiful shrub . ”
This attractive and classifiable woody wonder is a fantastic selection if you ’re bet for a low - sustentation bush that blooms copiously in the shade .
It provide four - season aesthetic with an intriguing presentation of beautifully shaped foliage , wizard blossom , spectacular fall colour , and attractive bare bark in winter .
Here ’s the gist , kinfolk : make the unique , arresting , and versatile oakleaf hydrangea a part of your garden today , and you ’re certain to be satisfied !
Do youwant even more hydrangea know - how ? Take a flavour at these guides next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Original version of this article written by Cari Misseri and published on July 20 , 2021 . Last update on July 20 , 2023 . Product photos via Arbico Organics , Bonide , CowPots , Espoma , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Joe Butler
