Pruning should be done as soon as the blooms begin to fade. This year, Ellie’s plant did not blossom, so she will have to rely on viewing other plants in the vicinity. A little pruning in late winter or early spring to begin reshaping may be her best option, followed by a more radical cutting back after she enjoys the blooms next season.
When should you cut back 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.
Do oakleaf hydrangeas need deadheading?
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?
How do you prepare oakleaf hydrangeas for winter?
When the plant is dormant and won’t be harmed by higher temps, plant young oakleaf hydrangeas in the late fall or early spring. The leathery leaves become purple, orange-bronze, or crimson in the fall, and the hue is appealing. Winter color and texture are also provided by the peeling, exfoliating branches.
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.
Divide an 8- to 12-inch segment of stems and roots from the main bush using a sharp garden spade. To cleanly sever the roots, dig the spade into the root mass. A dirt shovel should be pushed into the soil slightly beyond the margin of the separated clump’s root mass. With the shovel, lift the divided clump and set it on a piece of plastic sheeting. To keep the roots and soil intact, pull the plastic sheets up around the root mass. If the clump can’t be replanted right away, pot it up in a container and keep it wet.
What does an oakleaf hydrangea look like in winter?
If not removed, hydrangea flower heads turn dry and brown in the fall and will stay that way throughout winter. Hydrangeas shed their leaves in the fall as well, but their brown stems remain upright unless clipped.
Do oakleaf hydrangeas lose their leaves?
Hydrangeas are shrubs whose name comes from the Greek words for water (hydor) and vessel (angos), owing to their love of water and the shape of their seed pods, respectively. Hydrangeas are rarely recommended by Master Gardeners in Sonoma County because these strong, shade-loving shrubs with huge, dramatic blooms are better suited to locations with humid air and summer rains. One prominent exception is Hydrangea quercifolia, also known as the oakleaf hydrangea. It not only thrives in our climate, but it also makes a beautiful garden specimen, unlike the mophead and lacecap species. This is the only hydrangea on our list of Sonoma County’s Recommended Plants.
H. quercifolia is called after its deeply lobed leaves, which resemble those of the northern red oak. It is native to the Southeastern United States (Quercus rubra). Other hydrangeas’ leaves aren’t lobed, and the differences don’t end there. H. quercifolia leaves are also thick, coarse, sparsely serrated, and bristling with microscopic hairs on the undersides. Because of its thickness and pubescence (hairiness), it is the only hydrangea that can comfortably cohabit in our gardens with low-water Mediterranean and California native plants.
Oakleaf hydrangeas reach a mature height of 6-7 feet and a width of 7-8 feet, with a charming mounding habit that is less stylized than their spherical, more formal cousins in the genus. They not only require less water than other members of the genus, but they can also thrive in a variety of light conditions, from full sun to full shade, with dappled shade being optimal. Plants require more shade in the interior; the closer they are to the coast, the more light they can withstand.
There are no known disease or pest problems with H. quercifolia, and it grows slowly compared to other hydrangeas. As a result, it is a well-behaved garden citizen who does not require excessive care or water. All portions of the hydrangea, like those of other hydrangeas, are slightly poisonous if eaten.
Oakleaf hydrangea is known for its white, conical summer blossoms that can grow to be nearly a foot long. But it doesn’t stop there. Oakleaf hydrangea foliage takes on a fall coat of gorgeous, dramatic color, ranging from crimson to purple to bronze, as many summer-flowering shrubs wither and drop their leaves.
Although it is technically deciduous, it retains its leaves until early winter. The naked shrub shows off its rusty, peeling branches and stems when they fall. The shredded, cinnamon-colored bark of older stems, reminiscent of manzanita and Arbutus, adds winter appeal. New growth emerges in the spring, with a stunning color and texture and soft, silky hairs.
H. quercifolia can be used as a single specimen, in small groups, or as a landscape border.
It’s also used in mass plantings in some large gardens. There are identified types that are supposed to boost bloom size and shape while also producing larger plants—some reaching 15 feet in height—and should be picked with caution. ‘Snowflake’ is a popular choice, but the flowers are a touch heavy; ‘Pee Wee’ and ‘Sikes Dwarf’, both in the 4-6 ft. range, are recommended for smaller gardens. ‘Munchkin’ stays at a height of 3 feet and a width of 3 feet.
Can you transplant oak leaf hydrangeas?
Maybe it’s time to consider transferring your oakleaf hydrangea if it’s outgrown its existing setting. Or perhaps you’re simply redoing your yard. Don’t be scared by this assignment, no matter what your requirements are. The move will be well tolerated by a robust, well-established oakleaf hydrangea with a strong root foundation. After your specimen has lost all of its foliage and entered dormancy, the optimum time to transfer it is in the fall or early winter.
Do oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old or new 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.