Oakleaf Hydrangea – Hydrangea quercifolia

This beautiful native shrub has a full, rounded shape.  The oak-like leaves start out dark green and turn a rich red to burgundy in the fall.  Older stems have exfoliating bark in light brown to cinnamon-brown strips, giving it winter interest.  It grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, in sun to partial shade, and is free of major insect pests and diseases.  It is also fairly drought tolerant, once established.  These attributes alone make it a great landscape plant.

But wait, there’s more!  The white panicle flowers are composed of showy sepals interspersed with fertile flowers.  The flowers open in June and last for 3 – 4 weeks, often developing a purplish-pink coloration with age.  They are a 3 star nectar and pollen source for honey bees.  Bumble bees and syrphid flies also visit the flowers.

Hopefully, we’ll be able to witness its insect attractiveness first hand when we see the ones at Brookside Nature center during June!