Hydrangea quercifolia 'Amethyst,' commonly known as 'Amethyst' hydrangea, is a striking oakleaf hydrangea cultivar that is perfect for a variety of places in the home garden. Performing best in rich, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade areas, 'Amethyst' matures to a compact but not dwarf size of 5-6' tall and wide, making it ideal for hedges, mass plantings, and foundation planting. From early to mid summer, this cultivar is noted for its striking cone-shaped flower panicles that emerge white and quickly mature to a luscious wine-red color later in the season. Flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, and 'Amethyst' gains multi-season appeal with the purple-red hues of its fall foliage. After fall foliage has come and gone, coarse mature stems exfoliate to reveal an attractive, chocolate brown inner bark, which adds eye-catching appeal to the winter landscape, especially when paired with occasionally persistent dried flower heads. This cultivar's semi-compact form works in smaller landscapes and is useful for mass planting, specimen plantings, or medium-sized hedges and borders; add size and versatility to year-round aesthetic appeal, and 'Ruby Slippers' makes an excellent addition to any space in the landscape.
