Oakleaf Hydrangeas: A Growing Guide for Hydrangea Quercifolia
Add this attractive shrub to your landscape for year-round appeal
Gatsby Moon® oakleaf hydrangea. Photo by: Proven Winners.
One of the most commonly grown garden shrubs, hydrangeas are beloved for their large showy flowers and attractive foliage. Oakleaf hydrangea, named for its deeply lobed oak-like leaves, has the added benefit of four-season appeal. The large dramatic foliage unfurls in spring, followed by cone-shaped panicles that bloom for weeks beginning in early summer. The brilliantly colored fall leaves drop off the plant to reveal attractive cinnamon-colored bark, lending winter interest to the landscape.
Native to the southeastern United States, oakleaf hydrangeas are low maintenance and tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. More drought tolerant than other types of hydrangeas, these versatile shrubs add color to mixed borders, woodland gardens, foundation plantings, and containers. Here’s how to grow and use oakleaf hydrangea in your landscape.
On this page: Basics | Planting | Care | Pictures | Landscaping with Hydrangea
On this page:
- OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA OVERVIEW
- PLANTING OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAS
- OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA CARE
- TYPES OF OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAS
- LANDSCAPING WITH OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAS
OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA OVERVIEW
Botanical name:
Hydrangea quercifolia
Plant type:
Multi-stemmed deciduous shrubZones:
5-9
Height/Spread:
Upright bushy or compact habit; 3 to 8 feet tall and wide
Exposure:
Full sun to part shade
Bloom time:
Late spring to summer, with flower heads lasting into fall
Flowers:
Cone-shaped flower panicles consist of clusters of small florets with rounded or pointed petals in single or double forms. Blooms start out creamy white, fading to pink, red, green, or beige as the flowers age. The long-lived blooms can be used for fresh or dried flower arrangements.
Foliage:
Leathery textured foliage is deeply lobed, resembling the leaves of oak trees. The green foliage develops brilliant fall color in shades of red, mahogany, burgundy, and purple.
Bark:
Stems on mature specimens have peeling cinnamon-colored bark that adds winter interest to the landscape.
Are oakleaf hydrangeas poisonous?
Hydrangea shrubs contain a compound called hydrangin, which can be toxic to pets or children if any part of the plant is ingested. Call your doctor, veterinarian or poison control center if there is any sign of adverse effects. Keep indoor fresh or dried flower arrangements out of reach of pets and children. See more Common Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats.
Are oakleaf hydrangeas deer resistant?
Deer will graze on all types of hydrangeas and are partial to the buds and flowers. If you live in an area with deer, provide protection around plants, use repellent, or substitute with other shrubs that are more resistant to deer damage.
Fall color of Gatsby Pink® oakleaf hydrangea. Photo by: Proven Winners.
PLANTING OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAS
When to plant:
Plant oakleaf hydrangea during milder months in spring or fall to avoid transplant shock.
Where to plant:
Place in a spot that receives at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun. Provide afternoon shade in hotter climates.
How to plant:
Loosen soil in the planting area and amend with compost or other rich organic matter. Dig a hole 2 to 3 times wider and slightly shallower than the root ball. Remove the plant from the nursery pot and loosen the roots if potbound. Place in the hole so the top of the root ball is at or slightly above soil level. Fill in the hole with soil, tamp down gently to remove air pockets, and water thoroughly. Provide regular water until plants are established.
OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA CARE
Pruning oakleaf hydrangeas:
Hydrangea quercifolia bloom on old wood and don't need much pruning. Trim out any dead or diseased branches in early spring. If the plant needs shaping, prune back stems just above a leaf node. After blooming, you can remove the faded flowers. Learn more about how to prune hydrangeas.
Temperature:
Oakleaf hydrangea is hardy in Zones 5-9. In colder regions, plants may experience flower bud damage due to extreme cold. Protect plants during cold spells and site in a sheltered spot to reduce the risk of cold damage.
Soil:
Oakleaf hydrangea prefers rich well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Apply several inches of compost or shredded bark around the base of plants in early spring to suppress weeds and retain moisture. For containers, use a high quality all-purpose potting mix.
Amendments and fertilizer:
Apply a slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring that’s especially formulated for trees and shrubs. Reapply each spring.
Water:
Plants prefer moist soil and regular watering. Oakleaf hydrangea is more drought-tolerant than other hydrangea types.
Pests and diseases:
When grown in the right conditions, oakleaf hydrangeas are free of most pests and diseases. Pests include aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites. Diseases include bacterial leaf spot, leaf blight, and powdery mildew.
VARIETIES OF OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAS
Photo by: Proven Winners.
GATSBY MOON® — Buy now from Proven Winners
Habit: Upright bushy habitHeight/Spread: 6 to 8 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer
Color: White flowers age to green; dark green foliage, red fall color
Gatsby Moon® produces tightly packed flower panicles with a distinctly pointed shape. The large showy flowers start out creamy white, turning pale green as they age. Green foliage turns wine-red in fall. Use this larger variety as hedging, screening, or as a background element in a woodland border.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
GATSBY GAL® — Buy now from Proven Winners
Habit: Compacy bushy habitHeight/Spread: 5 to 6 feet tall & wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall
Color: White flowers fade to pale pink; green foliage, red fall color
This medium-sized variety produces slender flower heads with tightly packed panicles on upright sturdy stems. Clean white flowers fade to blush pink in fall, providing showy contrast to the red fall foliage. Plant in a mixed border, foundation planting, or mass in the landscape.
Photo by: Proven Winners.
GATSBY PINK® — Buy now from Proven Winners
Habit: Upright bushy habitHeight/Spread: 6 to 8 feet tall & wide
Bloom time: Summer
Color: White flowers age to pink; green foliage, burgundy red fall color
Large showy flower heads start out white, quickly turning to bright pink for months of continuous color. The rich green foliage turns bright burgundy-red in fall, offering dramatic contrast. Use this larger variety as hedging or screening, as a background plant in a woodland border, or a stand-alone focal point in the landscape.
Photo by: Spring Meadow Nursery.
'ALICE'
Habit: Upright bushy habitHeight/Spread: 5 to 8 feet tall & wide
Bloom time: Summer
Color: White flowers age to pink; green foliage, scarlet, burgundy, and purple fall color
‘Alice’ has an upright rounded habit and superior fall color. The conical arching flower heads reach 10 to 14 inches long, starting out white and fading to pink and brown. Large leaves 8 inches long start out dark green, developing bright hues of scarlet, burgundy and purple in fall. Use this larger variety as hedging, screening, or as a background specimen in a woodland border.
Photo by: Dave Whitinger / Millette Photomedia.
'RUBY SLIPPERS'
Habit: Compact bushy habitHeight/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall & wide
Bloom time: Early to mid-summer
Color: White flowers age to pink and red; green foliage, burgundy-red fall color
Oversized flower panicles, which reach up to 9 inches long, are held on sturdy upright stems. The white blooms fade to light pink before deepening to rich ruby-red. Green leaves, 5 inches long, develop rich hues of burgundy red in fall. This dwarf variety, a hybrid of ‘Snow Queen’ and ‘Pee Wee’, is suitable for small spaces, hedging, foundation plantings, and containers.
Photo by: Beekeepx / Shutterstock.
'SNOW QUEEN'
Habit: Bushy spreading habitHeight/Spread: 4 to 6 feet tall, 6 to 8 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Color: White flowers age to pink; green foliage, bronze, purple, and red fall color
This award-winning variety produces long blooming, 8-inch conical flower heads on sturdy upright stems. The pure white blooms fade to blush pink. Deeply lobed green leaves turn brilliant shades of bronze, purple, and red in fall. The spreading habit makes this a good choice for mass plantings, mixed borders, or as screening.
Photo by: Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia.
'PEE WEE'
Habit: Compact bushy habitHeight/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Early to mid-summer
Color: White flowers age to pink-red; green foliage, burgundy and red fall color
Cone-shaped flower heads, 6 to 8 inches long, are complemented by deeply lobed foliage for an elegant effect in the landscape. The dark green leaves develop rich shades of red, maroon, and purple in fall. Grow this dwarf variety in small space gardens, containers, shrub borders, or as low hedging.
Photo by: Spring Meadow Nursery.
'MUNCHKIN'
Habit: Compact bushy habitHeight/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall & wide
Bloom time: Summer
Color: White flowers age to pink; green foliage, mahogany-red fall color
A profusion of 6-inch long flowers open white, developing hints of pink and red. Blooms remain upright on sturdy stems. Green leaves turn brilliant mahogany-red in fall, dropping to reveal the attractive cinnamon-colored peeling bark. The smallest oakleaf hydrangea variety in cultivation, use this compact rounded shrub in containers, small spaces, mass plantings, and shrub borders.
Photo by: Spring Meadow Nursery.
'SNOWFLAKE'
Habit: Upright bushy habitHeight/Spread: 5 to 8 feet tall and wide; may grow larger in optimal growing conditions
Bloom time: Summer
Color: White flowers age to pink; green foliage, red fall color
‘Snowflake’ is a unique variety with layered florets that give a double-flowered appearance. The showy 12-inch-long flower panicles open creamy white, fading to pink. Deeply lobed green foliage develops spectacular shades of red, maroon, and purple in fall. Use this larger variety as a background plant in a mixed or woodland border, or as a stand-alone focal point in the landscape.
LANDSCAPING WITH OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAS
For borders and landscapes: Oakleaf hydrangea can be grown in a woodland setting, foundation plantings, mixed borders, as hedging or screening, or massed in the landscape.
For slopes and hillsides: Mass any variety of oakleaf hydrangea along a bank or hillside to stabilize the soil and help stem erosion.
For containers: Compact or dwarf varieties can be grown in containers. Use as a decorative focal point in a border, on a patio or deck.
There are many ways to use oakleaf hydrangeas in your landscape. Here’s how:
- Use a larger variety as a background plant in a mixed border or woodland setting.
- Plant a medium to large-sized variety along a fence or property line for privacy screening.
- Combine oakleaf hydrangea in a foundation planting with evergreens and other shrubs that bloom at different times for year-round color.
- Plant a larger specimen in a bed or border where the attractive peeling bark can be enjoyed in winter. Combine with other plants with winter interest such as hellebores, witch hazel, snowdrops and crocus.
- Mass along a slope or hillside by itself or in combination with other plants to help stem erosion.
- Use a small to medium-sized variety to divide garden rooms.
- Plant a row of oakleaf hydrangeas alongside a pathway for four-season color.
- Place a smaller variety in a container and display at the end of a pathway, on a deck or patio for a showy focal point.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How big do oakleaf hydrangeas get?
The average size of most oakleaf hydrangeas is 6 to 8 tall and wide. Dwarf varieties grow 3-4 feet tall and wide.
Can oakleaf hydrangea take full shade?
Plants need a minimum of half day sun to thrive. Too much shade can result in leggy growth, fewer blooms and less intense fall color.
Do oakleaf hydrangeas lose leaves in winter?
Hydrangea quercifolia is a deciduous shrub, dropping its leaves in fall.
Do you cut back oakleaf hydrangeas?
Hydrangea quercifolia blooms on old wood and does best with minimal pruning. Remove dead or diseased branches in early spring and cut off spent flowers when plants have finished blooming. When pruning oakleaf hydrangeas, cut branches to just above a leaf bud and lightly shape plants as needed.
