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Hydrangea quercifolia ( hy - DRAN - jee - ah kwer - sih - FOH - lee - ah ) is a deciduous efflorescence shrub that start in the Southeastern United States and is naturalized in many area of North America as well as Asia .
This member of the Hydrangeaceae family of plants is ordinarily known as Oakleaf or Oak Leaf Hydrangea .
Its botanic name is derived from the Greek wrangle for the oak tree diagram ( Quercus ) , water ( hydor ) , and vessel ( aggeion ) , and is descriptive of the foliage condition and the fruit ejector seat of the plant .
Growing Tips For Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea Quercifolia Care
Size and Growth
Oakleaf Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub that can grow in its mature size of it between 4′ and 8′ ft magniloquent with a spread as great as 10′ foot wide . The industrial plant has an atypical or upright outgrowth use .
As the vernacular name implies , this plant has oak - comparable leaves . The green parting are coarsely textured and leathery .
In the autumn , the green foliation turns attractive tint of orange , red , burgundy , purpleness , and lavender .
The papery barque of the woody stems exfoliates in the fall , revealing cinnamon - colored wood underneath . This is a great characteristic for winter interest group .
Flowering and Fragrance
Unlike othertypes of hydrangeas , oakleaf hydrangea has clusters of multibranched bloodless flowers with magnanimous panicles and point backsheesh held by impregnable , sturdy stems .
It also comes in both single flower and double heyday . As the flowers get on they melt shades of pink .
These lightly scented cone shape - regulate panicles of white flower seem in late spring to other summertime and turn clear pinkish , lilac , and tan as the time of year progresses . Large , showy panicle flowers may be up to a foot long .
Oakleaf Hydrangea blooms passage into brown or Cu - colored berries of late in the summertime . pollinator are attract to the prime , and birds enjoy the berries .
These cluster of flowers are also indite of uninspired flowers that cover the fertile flowers closer to the plant ’s stem .
Light and Temperature
hydrangea like full sun or partial shade , so six hours or more of direct morning sunlight is idealistic . Alternatively , you’re able to institute them afternoon shade with just a few hours of sun .
More detail : Hydrangeas and Sunlight – How Much Do They demand ?
These plants are wintertime unfearing in USDA hardiness zones 5a through 9b .
Watering and Feeding
Oak Leaf Hydrangea is drought - insubordinate and typically does well with natural rain . In arid areas , deep , occasional lachrymation is preferable to frequent light tearing .
Soak the root testis and soil at earth story ( avoid overhead watering ) only when the top few inches of soil finger quite dry .
commemorate to avert lacrimation , as oakleaf hydrangea will likely be subject to steady down rot when left to stand in water .
Hydrangeas typically postulate little or no plant food ; however , if you have alkaline soil , you may wish to supplement with an acidic coarse-grained fertilizer early in the springtime .
Work the fertilizer product into the soil along with existing mulch , water , and re - mulch in readiness for the outflow and summer months .
Soil and Transplanting
Oakleaf Hydrangeas boom in well - debilitate , moist soil but can also do well in loamy , sandy , silty , and somewhat acidulent grunge with lots of organic issue .
When imbed in the landscape , remember that these plants may strike a spread of 10′ feet , so appropriate a space of 6′ to 12′ feet between plants .
Plant at a depth that leaves the root solar flare visible at the dirt ’s open . lend a 3 - inch layer of organic mulch to assist protect the roots and hold back wet , but do n’t let the mulch touch the plant ’s stem and trunk .
Remember to plant oakleaf hydrangea in the fall or milder calendar month in outpouring to avoid organ transplant shock .
Grooming and Maintenance
Be sure to prune just after bloom sentence is over . These hydrangeas bloom on old wood in belated summertime , so cut back in the autumn could result in the departure of blossom buds .
In the springtime , inspect your plant and prune away only damaged stems .
Over the wintertime months , they require consistent mulching , watering sessions , and tribute .
you could give wintertime protection and hold filth wet by mound 6″ to 8″ inches of mulch around the basis after the ground suspend . A burlap wrap will also exploit .
How to Propagate Hydrangea Quercifolia
This native shrub spread out naturally through dry land shoots , so you may be able to propagate it through naval division .
The most common way of grow newfangled Oak Leaf Hydrangea plants is with stem cuttings .
To do this , prefer green fore tips with leaves but no blooms . You ’ll need cuttings that are about 4″ to 6″ inches retentive and have a minimum of one growth node .
Strip the leaves from the bottom half of the press cutting . Keep 2 to 4 leaves at the tip .
Dip the cutting in the rooting endocrine , and place it into a raft of sterile , moist potting medium .
set your cutting off in a location that stays consistently strong and find bright , collateral sun . commend to avoid direct sunlight because it can hamper the roots from get .
cover up the cutting lightly with a plastic bag to facilitate keep on humidness . body of water lightly as needed . Never let the land be soggy .
You should see root growth within about three month . When this happen , you could transplant your cuttings into larger pots or transition them into the garden .
Hydrangea Quercifolia Main Pest Or Diseases
Oakleaf hydrangeas are prostrate to leaf spot , so improving water drainage and soil aeration is best .
too damp , humid conditions can also run to powdery mold and leaf blight problems . attenuated plants may be dependent to spider mites and aphid infestation .
Deer may wipe out the leaf .
Is the plant considered toxic or poisonous to people, kids, and pets?
Hydrangea quercifolia is considered toxic because it arrest Hydrangin , a cyanogenic glycoside .
diaphoresis , stomach pain , nausea , and vomiting may ensue if the parting , flowers , or bark are consume .
Is the plant considered invasive?
Hydrangea quercifolia is not list as an invasive plant life .
Suggested Hydrangea Quercifolia Uses
Versatile , easy - to - get Oakleaf Hydrangea make an excellent addition to pollinator , butterfly stroke , and woodland gardens . Its pretty , showy peak heads land joy to play areas and children ’s garden .
This versatile shrub also makes an splendid choice for mixed perimeter , foundation planting , native flora garden , or ghost garden .
Its showy flowers also make an excellent cut flower and can be dried for dried flower arrangements .
Planted around a bird self-feeder , these plant cater natural food for the fowl , perch , and winter interest during cold weather .
As a specimen plant , an accent industrial plant , hedge , woodland margin , or for a mass planting , there is n’t a serious pick than the Oak Leaf Hydrangea shrub with the outstanding spook of its efflorescence and leafage color .
