How to Grow an Oakleaf Hydrangea

The beautiful oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a 4-season shrub that deserves a place in any garden. Oakleaves are irregular spreading deciduous shrubs with dramatic large white pyramidal flower clusters that remain on the shrub for months. It can be used as a specimen plant or planted in groups.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Knife or garden shears
• Water
• Mulch or other organic material.
• Pruners

Instructions

1. Select a planting site. For best flowering and leaf coloring, select a site that receives both sun and afternoon shade. Moist, well-drained soil is preferred because the plant will not tolerate soggy soil or excessively dry soil.

2. Prepare the shrub for planting. Most oakleaf hydrangea are purchased containerized from garden centers and nurseries. If planting is delayed, be sure to keep the shrub watered. If balled and burlapped specimens are purchased, remove any twine or wire and cut off half of the burlap covering the rootball.

3. Dig the planting hole. Dig the planting hole 3 to 4 times the width of the container in which the hydrangea was growing and equally as deep. When planted, the top of the rootball should be even with the surrounding soil.

4. Place the shrub in the planting hole. Position the shrub in the planting hole and add a small amount of soil to stabilize. Fill the hole with water and allow it to be absorbed. Backfill the remaining soil making sure to stamp it firm around the roots. Water again deeply.

5. Mulch the planting site. Mulching, or "dressing" the planting helps to retain moisture and keeps roots cool, which is critical to the oakleaf hydrangea, and should be maintained throughout the year. Spread a 3 to 4-inch layer of mulch around the base of the shrub and over the entire planting area. Mulching also inhibits weeds and gives a finished look to the garden.

6. Prune the shrub. Broken or dead branches should be removed as soon as the leaves have emerged in the spring. Any additional pruning should be done after the hydrangea has bloomed since buds are formed during the previous growing season.

Tips & Warnings

• The Oakleaf Hydrangea can be successfully grown in Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. The shrub can grow from 6- to 10-feet high and 6- to 8-feet wide.

• The Oakleaf hydrangea gets its name from the large dark green or blue-green leaves that resemble oak leaves. When the shrub is planted in a location that receives both sun and afternoon shade, the leaves turn red, purple, orangish brown or bronze in the autumn.

• As the dramatic blooms age on the shrub, they will turn from white to a pinkish color and then to brown. They can be cut and dried easily.

• Mature shrubs feature cinnamon brown bark that peels slightly. It is particularly attractive in winter.

• Oakleaf hydrangea planted under trees rarely thrive because of the competition for moisture with the tree roots.