It grows from 4 to 8 feet tall.
Oakleaf hydrangea grows slower thanother hydrangeas, about 1 to 2 feet per year.
It prefers slightly acidic, rich, well-draining soil in full sun or partial shade.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
It thrives in moist soil; a thicklayer of mulchover the root zone will help retain soil moisture.
Like all hydrangeas, the shrubs are toxic to humansand pets.
Backfill the hole, tamp it down, and water the plant.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Place a thick layer (2 to 3 inches deep) of mulch on top.
Giant flower heads can sometimes cause the plant to flop, so consider using stakes if it needs support.
Oakleaf Hydrangea Care
Oakleaf hydrangeas are deciduous or perennial plants, returning year after year.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
In the North, oakleaf hydrangeas can get by with full sun.
Too much shade may reduce the intensity of the fall color.
Blanketing the ground beneath the shrub with a thick layer of mulch will help maintain soil moisture.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Fertilizer
This plant generally requires no feeding, especially if you are mulching over the root zone.
When growing in alkaline soils, occasional feeding with an acid fertilizer may be beneficial.
This hydrangea has a rounded, upright growth habit, making it a good specimen plant.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
It also works well as a foundation plant or when massed in shrub borders or open woodland gardens.
Its fall foliage color is attractivethe leathery leaves turn purple, orange-bronze, or red.
The peeling and exfoliating branches also provide winter color and texture.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Growing this plant in pots is not recommended.
Pruning
Damaged or diseased branches can be cut away whenever they appear.
This plant may shoot up to 10 feet in ideal conditions, requiring trimming.
‘Snow Queen’Plant Image Library from Boston / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
The best rule of thumb is not to prune past July.
It may start setting buds in early fall for the next growing season.
It is best to propagate oakleaf hydrangeas from stem cuttings.
‘Snowflake’David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
If growing conditions remain consistent, they should rebloom each year.
Deadhead old blooms as soon as they fade by the end of July.
After that, stop pruning or deadheading.
‘Gatsby Moon’Barry Winiker / Getty Images
What Do Oakleaf Hydrangeas Look Like?
The petals start white and turn pink, red, green, or beige.
Oakleaf hydrangeas have a pleasant, mild floral scent.
‘Ruby Slippers’pbmGarden
How to Encourage More Blooms
If a hydrangea fails to bloom, it may be too young.
The oakleaf hydrangea leaves are deeply lobed and look like the leaves of anoak tree.
These long-lived shrubs can live up to 50 years when given proper care.
‘Alice’The Spruce
Your oakleaf hydrangea may have yellow leaves because it was overwatered.
Wilted yellow leaves also suggest overwatering.
Test the soil pH, check the watering, and look for signs of pests.
NC State University Cooperative Extension.
Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Hydrangea.
