Hydrangea quercifolia, also known as oakleaf hydrangea, is a medium to large understory shrub found in several states through the American southeast, from Florida to North Carolina and west to Louisiana. Growing to 4-8' tall with a mounding habit up to 10' wide, oakleaf hydrangea is most commonly found in moist forests and along streambanks with rich, sandy-loam type soils, where it produces colossal, showy, lobed leaves reminiscent of oak leaves, as well as large flower panicles in the spring and summer. Flowers are mildly fragrant and typically begin creamy white before fading to pink and eventually tawny beige as the summer goes on, attracting a wide variety of pollinators in the process. Hydrangea quercifolia performs best in part-shade, though it will also tolerate full shade and full sun when provided with consistent moisture; oakleaf hydrangea needs some sun exposure to bloom, but may scorch with too much sun exposure. While there are a variety of oakleaf hydrangea cultivars on the market (including in our stock here at Unity Nursery), these showy shrubs are sure to impress, even in their wildest, most natural form. In addition to floral appeal in the spring and summer, Hydrangea quercifolia puts on an incredible fall foliage display in shades of orange, red, and purple too, and attractive exfoliating bark in pleasing shades of cinnamon brown even adds winter interest, providing excellent aesthetics year round. Oakleaf hydrangea is an incredible pick for your next naturalized border, woodland garden, or specimen tree, and won't disappoint no matter where you put it so long as you have some space to let them spread.
