Hydrangea Quercifolia (aka Oakleaf)
"Snowflake"
The
oakleaf hydrangea is Alabama's state wildflower and many
would argue that it should be the state flower instead
of the camellia. I love camellias but I can see their reasoning.
This is definitely a "10" plant for Alabama as well
as the southeastern U.S. They grow well in sun or shade, they
seem to laugh at the heat and their huge blooms are dramatic and
long lasting. What more could a gardener ask for? Well, fragrance
maybe, so we might have to deduct a point for that.
These are usually big shrubs (with the exception of a new variety called "Pee Wee" that stays under 4 feet) so the gardener with limited space might want to think twice about planting one. They make an outstanding showing planted in masses but also do nicely as specimen plants. They seem to be at home in both informal woodland gardens as well as formal plantings in front yards. The suburb of Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama has one of the most beautiful displays of oakleafs I have ever seen. Drive down Montevallo Road in May or June for an amazing sight - and mind you, this area is almost in complete shade!
The oakleafs are called so because of their leaves which look like those of an oak tree. The stems become thick and gnarled and peel, not unlike that on a birch tree. In winter, they are an arresting feature. In habit and appearance, the oakleaf hydrangeas are totally different from the macrophyllas.
Culture
Oakleaf hydrangeas are the most easy to care for. When given good attention when planted and watered during dry spells, you should not have to worry about them. Just admire them! I do not know of any diseases or pests that plaque them and pruning is minimal (see below.)
Site Selection - The beauty of the oakleaf hydrangea is that it succeeds admirably in both sun or shade. It flowers beautifully in almost complete shade and the white flowers certainly brighten up dark areas. On the other hand, full sun doesn't seem to hamper the blooms either. In the wild, they grow mostly in wooded areas with dappled sunshine. This is ideal but by no means a requirement. Oakleafs do not like wet areas or extremely dry ones - your soil should be rich and moist for optimal growth.
Planting - Dig a generous hole, wider than the root ball and add compost, aged manure, leaves, peat moss, etc. to the planting mix. Position the plant so that an inch of the root ball sits above the soil line, fill in with your native soil that has been amended and water well. Surround the plant with 1-2 inches of mulch - leaves and pine needles are excellent choices.
Fertilizing - should be done twice yearly - in late winter or early spring and then again after flowering in late summer. Do not fertilize after August. I use a general 10-10-10 granular fertilizer which I sprinkle around the base of each plant. Liquid fertilizers can also be used and are especially recommended if your plant is suffering from chlorosis (yellowing leaves). Always follow the rules on the fertilizer label and don't over-do it. Too much fertilizer can be harmful and can result in excessive green growth and fewer flowers.
Pruning - Oakleaf hydrangeas will grow and remain beautiful with no pruning at all. The only pruning needed is to remove dead or damaged limbs. If you wish to maintain an oakleaf hydrangea at a certain size, wait until after it has bloomed in the summer before pruning.
Keep in mind that the various types of hydrangeas are pruned differently! (For pruning instructions for smooth, panicle, and macrophylla hydrangeas, consult the appropriate web pages on this site).
Hardiness
Generally considered hardy to zone 5. Click here for the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
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These are usually big shrubs (with the exception of a new variety called "Pee Wee" that stays under 4 feet) so the gardener with limited space might want to think twice about planting one. They make an outstanding showing planted in masses but also do nicely as specimen plants. They seem to be at home in both informal woodland gardens as well as formal plantings in front yards. The suburb of Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama has one of the most beautiful displays of oakleafs I have ever seen. Drive down Montevallo Road in May or June for an amazing sight - and mind you, this area is almost in complete shade!
The oakleafs are called so because of their leaves which look like those of an oak tree. The stems become thick and gnarled and peel, not unlike that on a birch tree. In winter, they are an arresting feature. In habit and appearance, the oakleaf hydrangeas are totally different from the macrophyllas.
Culture
Oakleaf hydrangeas are the most easy to care for. When given good attention when planted and watered during dry spells, you should not have to worry about them. Just admire them! I do not know of any diseases or pests that plaque them and pruning is minimal (see below.)
Site Selection - The beauty of the oakleaf hydrangea is that it succeeds admirably in both sun or shade. It flowers beautifully in almost complete shade and the white flowers certainly brighten up dark areas. On the other hand, full sun doesn't seem to hamper the blooms either. In the wild, they grow mostly in wooded areas with dappled sunshine. This is ideal but by no means a requirement. Oakleafs do not like wet areas or extremely dry ones - your soil should be rich and moist for optimal growth.
Planting - Dig a generous hole, wider than the root ball and add compost, aged manure, leaves, peat moss, etc. to the planting mix. Position the plant so that an inch of the root ball sits above the soil line, fill in with your native soil that has been amended and water well. Surround the plant with 1-2 inches of mulch - leaves and pine needles are excellent choices.
Fertilizing - should be done twice yearly - in late winter or early spring and then again after flowering in late summer. Do not fertilize after August. I use a general 10-10-10 granular fertilizer which I sprinkle around the base of each plant. Liquid fertilizers can also be used and are especially recommended if your plant is suffering from chlorosis (yellowing leaves). Always follow the rules on the fertilizer label and don't over-do it. Too much fertilizer can be harmful and can result in excessive green growth and fewer flowers.
Pruning - Oakleaf hydrangeas will grow and remain beautiful with no pruning at all. The only pruning needed is to remove dead or damaged limbs. If you wish to maintain an oakleaf hydrangea at a certain size, wait until after it has bloomed in the summer before pruning.
Keep in mind that the various types of hydrangeas are pruned differently! (For pruning instructions for smooth, panicle, and macrophylla hydrangeas, consult the appropriate web pages on this site).
Hardiness
Generally considered hardy to zone 5. Click here for the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Back to Hydrangeas
Back to Trees & Shrubs