Hydrangea quercifolia is a four-season shrub with good spring, summer, and autumn bold foliage, striking in bloom and in autumn, but very sparse in winter.
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F E A T U R E S |
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Form
-medium shrub
-to 7' tall x 8' wide
-radiating rounded
-composed of several straggly, few-branched stems in a loose arrangement
-medium rate
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Foliage
-dark green
-deciduous
-opposite
-overall very broadly ovate to elliptical
-serrated, incised, and ranging from entire to 7-lobed
acuminate-tipped lobes
-to 12" long
-many leaves resemble Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) foliage
-mixture of green, wine, purple, maroon, and brown, with best color in full sun
-Oct.-Nov.
-in shade, often green then abscised
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Flowers
-showy white or cream sterile flowers, with green true flowers hidden underneath
-sterile flowers gradually changing to purple-pink, bronze, and finally brown
-conical inflorescences terminate most stems and are to 1' long each
-June and persistent
-overall the many inflorescences create a showy, radiating effect of white
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Fruit
-brown capsules
-not showy
-however, the inflorescence with persistent sterile flowers is quite noticeable in winter and persistent into the following summer if not removed
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Twig
-young twigs a very pubescent orange-brown
-exfoliating on older stems to reveal orange or cinnamon smooth interior bark
-buds orange-brown and pubescent
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Trunk
-light orange-brown
-exfoliating
-many stems radiate from a common point at 45 degree angles |
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C U L T
U R E
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Culture
-full sun to full shade (best in partial shade)
-prefers moist, well-drained, rich soils
-wet site tolerant
-fruiting panicles normally left on for winter character, but may be pruned off
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Hardiness
-zones 5 to 9
Origin
-native to southern regions of the U.S.
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U S A G E |
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Assets
-showy white inflorescences in early summer
-exfoliating orange bark
-wine autumn coloration
-large bold foliage
-wet site tolerant
Liabilities
-need to maintain a non-straggly habit through pruning if a specimen plant
-persistent dead panicles can be an asset or liability |
Function
-specimen, border, accent, entranceway, focal point, or foundation shrub
Texture
-bold texture in foliage, flower, and when bare
-open density |
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S E L
E C T I 0 N S |
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Varieties
and Cultivars
- Search
OSU PlantFacts for additional plants in this species
Alternates
-shrubs that have a radiating habit from the base, early summer white flowers, exfoliating bark, or bold texture |