Resource Library
Plant of the Week: Oakleaf Hydrangea
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture does not promote, support or recommend plants featured in "Plant of the Week." Please consult your local Extension office for plants suitable for your region.
Plant of the Week
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Latin: Hydrangea quercifolia
Shrubs that flower in the shade in the middle of summer are about as rare as the proverbial
hen’s teeth, yet the oakleaf hydrangea does that, and so much more.
This deciduous shrub grows up to 6 feet tall and 7 feet wide with a coarse and bold
character. Its leaves take the shape of a black oak leaf, except they are two times
larger, often growing to 10 inches. In the fall, the foliage turns a beautiful red
to maroon color. One of the nicest features of the oakleaf hydrangea is its many trunks
continually peel away, leaving behind trunks in various shades of cinnamon, orange
and brown.
The flowers of oakleaf hydrangea are produced in July in fat, terminal clusters from
6 to 12 inches long. Oakleaf hydrangea flowers begin life as a creamy white, but during
the next month, they change to a light and then dark pink. By October, the flower
heads change to a paper-bag brown and are excellent for dried flower arrangements.
The oakleaf hydrangea was first discovered and named by John Bartram in the latter
half of the 1700s, while he and his son William were exploring southern Georgia and
Florida. Bartram was a self taught botanist who was the first to ship many of our
native plants back to an eager English gardening public which simply couldn’t get
enough of this country’s floral bounty.
Oakleaf hydrangea has a native range from the Carolinas to northern Georgia and across
to Mississippi. While widely considered a native plant, it is not found wild in Arkansas.
Oakleaf Hydrangea is one of the five plants that were chosen as a 1999 Arkansas Select
plant. The Arkansas Select plants were chosen from the group of plants nominated by
experts across the state such as nurserymen, greenhouse producers and university and
extension personnel. These plants were judged to do well across the state, to be relatively
underused in gardens and to be pest free. All five Arkansas Select plants will be
available from most Arkansas greenhouses and nurseries this spring at the appropriate
planting season.
The name "hydrangea" translates from its Latin roots as "water loving," but fortunately
the oakleaf hydrangea is much more tolerant of dry soils than most hydrangeas. While
plants do best in good soil with a moist root run, such as near creek beds, they will
also flourish in drier sites. They are best grown where they get high, filtered shade
or on the north or east side of buildings.
The oakleaf hydrangea is hardy throughout the state and will grow as far north as
Philadelphia. They have a coarse texture in the landscape so make good companion plants
with other coarse textured plants such as hostas.
By: Gerald Klingaman, retired
Extension Horticulturist - Ornamentals
Extension News - March 26, 1999
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture does not maintain lists of retail outlets where these plants can be purchased. Please check your local nursery or other retail outlets to ask about the availability of these plants for your growing area.