The Oakleaf hydrangea is one of the few hydrangeas native to the United States (H. arborescens being the only other native we are aware of).
The Oakleaf hydrangea is a dramatic, white-blooming shrub with four seasons of interest. It blooms best in areas where summers are somewhat hot, but it is winter hardy farther north than the macrophylla (mophead). A tremendous advantage of the Oakleaf is that it can thrive in much drier locations than its cousins. Mopheads struggle in my sandy soil, but the Oakleaf hydrangeas thrive with very little attention.
At this time the Oakleaf can be purchased in two forms: the single blossom types and the, so called, double-blossom type. 'Snowflake' & 'Harmony' are two most common varieties with double blooms.
The Oakleaf gets its name from the shape of its beautiful large leaves. These leaves often turn colors of brilliant red, orange, yellow and burgundy in the fall if planted in a sunny location with a little afternoon shade. The Oakleaf hydrangea can tolerate and even thrive in much sunnier areas than the mophead and lacecaps (macrophylla).
NOTE: Unlike the mophead, the Oakleaf can grow very well in drier soil, but it cannot tolerate "wet feet." It is important to provide excellent drainage when planting this hydrangeas. It can get root rot in a heart-beat if it stands in soggy soil even for short periods.
Here is another beautiful image of the fall color of oakleaf hydrangeas from Nancy Jorgensen.
