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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf hydrangea)
Smith, R.W.

Hydrangea quercifolia

Hydrangea quercifolia W. Bartram

Oakleaf Hydrangea, Oak-leaf Hydrangea

Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: hyqu3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A mound-shaped shrub, 3-12 ft. tall. Multiple stems are sparingly branched with picturesque canes. Older stems are exfoliating to reveal a rich, brown inner bark. The showy inflorescence of greenish flowers, turns white then purplish and persists on the bush until mid-winter. The foliage, shaped something like that of red oak, becomes colorful in fall.

 

From the Image Gallery

25 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 12 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Red , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AL , DC , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TN
Native Distribution: FL Panhandle & GA to LA
Native Habitat: Damp woods; river banks

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Moist, fertile, well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: Susceptible to sunscald, chlorosis in alkaline soils, and winter dieback. Many weak, brittle canes are easily broken in wind and ice. Forms colonies from a shallow root system. Canes can be cut to the ground every two or three years to keep the shrub smaller, but if the canes are allowed to grow, the naturally peeling bark is attractive. Pest free. Prune immediately after flowering.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Low.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed or cuttings. Softwood cuttings should be taken early. Asexual propagation is the usual means of propagation because of a wide variability in seedlings.
Seed Treatment: Seeds require no sepcial treatment but need careful handling because they are so small.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native plant to replace invasive non-native nandina in Houston
February 28, 2010
I'm just now finding out that Nandinas are an invasive species from our local chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. I have three of them in my front yard and want to replace them. Can you sug...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Georgia Native Plant Society - Atlanta, GA
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1998 VOL. 15, NO.5 - Native Shrubs Providing Landscape Heritage and Habitat, Executive Director\'s Re...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Hydrangea quercifolia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Hydrangea quercifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hydrangea quercifolia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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