Oakleaf Hydrangea
Everything You Want to Know About Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangea is an oddity among this species, because it is one of only a few to be found native to the Americas. This is a showy plant with white colored blooms, and with something to show the observer through all four seasons. It blooms most fully in areas that have hot summers, but it is hardy enough to winter in all but northernmost states. The oakleaf hydrangea also needs much less water than most of its relatives, and some thrive even in sandy soil.
There are two forms of oakleaf hydrangea – there is a single blossom plant and one that is called a double-blossom plant. The double-blossom variety is generally referred to as the Snowflake hydrangea.
The oakleaf hydrangea takes its name from its leaves – they are beautifully shaped and large, like and oak tree's leaves. The oakleaf hydrangea's leaves turn to burgundy, yellow, orange and red in the fall if you plant it in a bright and sunny location. The oakleaf can also withstand a lot more direct sunlight than some of its relatives like the mophead.
The oakleaf grows very well in dry soil, but it does not do well at all in very wet areas. You need to provide more than adequate drainage for this hydrangea. It is very susceptible to root-rot if it is under water for any length of time.
The Snowflake variety of oakleaf hydrangeas have blooms that are often referred to as “multiple florets”, although some growers think they look more like a double bloom than a multiple bloom. Each floret keeps opening during the summer, so its blooming season is a lot longer than some of the single-bloom types. The flowers of the oakleaf hydrangeas usually take on a pinker tinge as they get older. Sometimes this tint flows over the whole bloom.
Oakleaf hydrangea has long and somewhat drooping limbs, which makes new gardeners more likely to want to prune it back, but don't do this hastily. The plant has multiple stems that shape into a round clump that can be six to ten feet tall and even wider across. The plant sends up shoots from under the soil, and the younger stems can look as though they are covered in a copper-colored fur.
The leaves of an oakleaf hydrangea are greenish/yellowish on the top and whitish on the underside. The leaves will be larger if you plant it in the shade. The flowers when they bloom are clusters that can be six to twelve inches high and three to five inches wide. When they first bloom, they are usually white, and they get pinker as the summer wears on. In the fall and winter the blooms are a rust-tinged brown color. Unlike some other hydrangeas, the bloom color does not change according to the pH level of the soil. Oakleaf hydrangeas are an interesting plant that will make a welcome addition to any garden.