Soil Oakleaf hydrangea grows best in moist, organic, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.06.5. It is drought resilient once planted, but it does benefit from water in extremely dry conditions. It’s critical to have good drainage. Although the plant prefers damp soil, wet feet are not an option.
Full to moderate shade is fine for this shrub.
It does, however, perform better when exposed to the sun for at least a full day or more, resulting in a richer floral show, stronger stems, and more beautiful autumn foliage.
Some cultivars can tolerate a more sunny location. On the other hand, heavy shadow produces fewer blossoms but larger leaves.
Trimming – Oakleaf hydrangeas require very little pruning, if any at all.
If pruning is required to shape or reduce the size of the shrub, do so soon after the flowers have faded.
Late in the summer, this shrub produces bloom buds for the next year.
To put it another way, it grows on ancient wood.
Pruning at any other time of year will result in the loss of the blossoms for the next year.
Insects This plant is rarely bothered by insects, with the exception of spider mites and aphids.
Deer will nibble on this plant, especially the sensitive, new spring foliage, so use a deer repellent or a physical barrier to protect it.
Propagation – Stem cuttings can be used to propagate the plant. The plant can also be propagated by layering because the branches are low to the ground.
When used as a solitary specimen, a backdrop to smaller shrubs, bulbs, or perennials, a component of a mixed border, a deciduous hedge, or a mass planting, oakleaf hydrangea is a powerful yet elegant shrub.
If oakleaf hydrangeas have a flaw, it’s that their enormous, coarsely textured foliage might be intimidating to a novice gardener. Rest confident that the foliage mixes in beautifully with plants with smaller leaves. Evergreens, for example, with their finer needles and scaly branches, provide a nice contrast. Boxwoods’ more formal round shape and compact, thick leaves contrast nicely with the looser appearance of oakleaf hydrangea. Oakleaf hydrangeas pair well with taller ferns like ostrich or cinnamon ferns, as well as shorter grass-like plants like liriope.
Easy-care The oakleaf hydrangea is particularly beneficial in the landscape because it provides year-round interest. It makes an immediate impact in the spring when its bold, beautiful leaf emerges. In the summer, the dark green foliage contrasts with the huge, long-lasting clusters of creamy white or pink blooms. Many cultivars mature to a medium pink or deep rose color over time. With its rich, deep burgundy/purple foliage that lasts all winter, the oakleaf hydrangea really shines in the fall. Additional interest is provided by the dried tan or light brown flower heads. The flaking tan bark adds a tactile aspect to the white environment in the winter.
An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hardy Trees and Shrubs by Dirr (Dirr, Michael A., 1997)
“Selection, Pruning, and Care of Hydrangea,” (ext.vt.edu/chesapeake/programs/anr/Pruning) Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication
“Problem-Free Shrubs for Virginia Landscapes,” according to the author. 450-236 (ext.vt.edu/450/450-236/) is a Virginia Cooperative Extension publication.
HORT-84P (ext.vt.edu/HORT/HORT-84/), “Selecting Plants for Virginia Landscapes: Showy Flowering Shrubs,” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication HORT-84P (ext.vt.edu/HORT/HORT-84/), “Selecting Plants for Virginia Landscapes: Showy Flowering Shrubs,” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication HORT-84P (
Hydrangea quercifolia, University of Connecticut College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources Plant Database (hort.uconn.edu)
Cooperative Extension of North Carolina State University (plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/hydrangea-spp)
Hydrangea Production at Tennessee State University (tnstate.edu/faculty/ablalock/documents/Hydrangea)
How far back can you cut oak leaf hydrangeas?
Reduce the wasted blooms to a huge pair of healthy buds. Cut down no more than a third of the plant at a time to diminish size. Not all branches should be trimmed back by a third. Blooms appear at the tips of branches, thus a general trim will only repeat the previous year’s pruning mistakes. If you want some blossoms next year, remove no more than a third of the entire branches. Light pruning in the winter or early spring will reduce the number of flowers but may result in larger blooms.
When should I prune my oakleaf hydrangea?
The oakleaf hydrangea is a deciduous, blooming shrub that is great for borders, bulk planting, and foundation planting. The flowers are pink, pastel purple, and creamy white in color and bloom throughout the summer and fall. Although this hydrangea doesn’t require much pruning, a little cut once a year will keep it looking tidy. Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on the previous season’s growth, so prune in the fall or early winter after blossoming.
Can you cut oakleaf hydrangea to the ground?
The oakleaf hydrangea blooms in whites and creams with cone-shaped flowers. Its leaves are deeply cut and resemble those of an oak tree. It’s a hardy shrub that thrives in both full sun and full shade.
H. quercifolia blooms on old wood, or growth from the previous season. Unless it is injured or overgrown, it does not require pruning. Remove the dead flower heads slightly beneath the bloom if you want to clean it up.
Remove a few of the oldest, thickest stems all the way to the ground if your oakleaf hydrangea is really old and woody. However, because it blooms on old wood, cutting the entire plant to the ground will result in the loss of an entire season’s worth of blossoms.
Cut back these shrubs in late winter before new growth begins
Shrubs that flower on young wood bloom later than old-growth bloomers, beginning in June and continuing until the first frost, because they need to grow and set buds the same year they bloom. If you avoid trimming when the flower buds are opening, these shrubs will forgive you if you don’t prune at a specific time.
1. Cut the blooms all the way back to get bigger flowers.
These shrubs can be pruned all the way back to the ground in late winter or early spring. Smooth hydrangeas will produce much larger flowers if cut severely every year like this, but many gardeners prefer smaller blooms on stronger branches.
2. To reduce flopping, leave an old growth framework.
The weight of the blossoms on certain hydrangea branches causes them to tumble over, especially after overhead irrigation or a strong storm. Cutting the stems to a height of 18 to 24 inches to offer a robust framework to support new growth is one approach to reduce this flopping.
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service’s horticulture specialist is Janet Carson.
Can hydrangeas be cut back hard?
If you’re not sure what kind of hydrangea you have, simply deadhead it and see how it grows. You can prune it harder next year if you find it producing blossoms on this year’s growth.
Should I deadhead my oakleaf hydrangea?
To ask which of my plants is my favorite is like asking which of my children is my fave! A difficult topic to answer, but since I’m not in danger of hurting sensitive young egos, I’d have to say the oakleaf hydrangea is one of my favorites (Hydrangea quercifolia). The reason for this is that this is a plant that has four distinct seasons of appeal. That appeals to me since it saves me time, energy, and money. It rewards me in the spring, summer, fall, and winter once it has established.
Hydrangea quercifolia is a shrub that grows to be around six to eight feet tall, with a maximum height of ten to twelve feet. The huge, dark green leaves have silvery undersides and resemble the Northern Red Oak, from which it receives its popular name. It can be grown in zones 5 through 9.
Cone-shaped flowers can grow up to a foot in length. The blossoms start out white, then acquire a pink blush before turning red as the seasons pass. Single or double florets might be found.
Although the spring and summer are lovely and lush, I am looking forward to the warm days and cool nights of October and November, when the flowers change red and the foliage takes on a variety of yellow, orange, red, brown, and burgundy hues. In protected areas, the leaves last for a long time before falling to reveal an uneven branching structure of cinnamon-colored peeling bark. The contrast against a snowy white bedspread is breathtaking.
Oakleaf hydrangeas thrive in hotter climates, but they like some afternoon shade. It can be grown in full sun in its northern range. The more sun exposure you get, the more flowers you’ll receive, and the more stunning the fall color will be.
This shrub can survive drier soil than its mophead relatives, but not wet feet. Plant it in acidic, wet, well-drained soil supplemented with compost or other organic matter. It can be used as a specimen feature in the landscape or as a mass planting in shaded wooded regions.
Pruning is rarely essential, although it should be done after the flowers have faded and before August. Late summer and early fall are the best times to plant flower buds for the next year. By simply snipping off old flowers, you can “deadhead” them at any time. I like to leave the blossoms on the plant throughout the winter months so that I may enjoy them.
You can cut longer stems for flower arrangements before August if you’re cutting blossoms for arrangements. After that, only remove short stems to avoid losing next year’s blooms.
Oakleaf hydrangeas are generally pest and disease free. This is another bonus in my eyes because it means that plants will look and perform their best all year long without the need of chemicals (always a last resort in my book).
The double flowered variety ‘Snowflake’ is arguably the most popular. Its creamy white blossoms can reach a length of a foot.
In the spring, the foliage of ‘Little Honey’ turns golden, then chartreuse, then green, with a gorgeous burgundy red fall color.
Oakleaf hydrangeas are a perennial favorite in my yard. They’re lovely all year with stunning leaves, exquisite flowers, and fascinating bark, and they’re hardy in many regions of the country. They’re pest and disease resistant, bloom in the shade, and are very little maintenance. What more could we expect of a plant for our landscapes and gardens?
What happens if you don’t prune hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood don’t require pruning and benefit from it. They’ll blossom more freely the next season if you leave them alone. Just keep in mind that while new growth will appear next season, it will be devoid of blossoms.
Why are my oak leaf hydrangeas not blooming?
Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are prized for their huge clusters of flowers and oak-like leaves. They are endemic to the southeastern United States. These plants are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, but they grow slowly and may not blossom the first season. When properly cared for, they bloom quite predictably once established. Inadequate water or poor trimming procedures are the most common causes of a lack of blooms. Both can be easily corrected.
Do oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood?
Some hydrangeas, like Limelight green hydrangea, bloom every year on new wood. Oakleaf hydrangeas, on the other hand, bloom on old wood from the previous year.
Before you enjoy the blooms, the buds that will become beautiful oakleaf flowers form on stems in the summer. Always prune oakleaf hydrangeas as soon as they complete flowering to prevent the formation of next year’s buds. If you wait too long, you can lose all of the bloom buds you’re hoping for.
An oakleaf hydrangea may provide beauty to your house and landscape every month of the year, whether you grow in a little space or have plenty of room. Pennington is here to help you take your landscape and garden to new heights all year long with timely advice and superior lawn and garden products.
Can you divide oakleaf hydrangea?
Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are deciduous shrubs that may survive the winter in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. They bloom in late spring and reach a mature height and width of 6 to 8 feet. The blossoms begin white and gradually turn pink over the summer before turning orange-red in the autumn. Divide well-established shrubs in late winter or early spring while they remain dormant in mild Mediterranean climes. The divisions can be transplanted in other areas of the yard or given away to neighbors and friends.