View source for Hydrangea quercifolia

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Hydrangeaceae
|genus=Hydrangea
|species=quercifolia
|common_name=Oakleaf hydrangea
|habit=herbaceous
|lifespan=perennial
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Hydrangea quericifolia1.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
'''''Hydrangea quercifolia''''' ('''Oakleaf hydrangea''') is a species of [[hydrangea]] native to the southeastern [[United States]], from [[North Carolina]] west to [[Tennessee]], and south to [[Florida]] and [[Louisiana]].

It is a coarse [[deciduous]] [[shrub]] growing to 2.5 m tall with an open crown. 

''Hydrangea quercifolia'' sprouts shoots from underground [[stolons]] and often grows in colonies. Young stems are covered in a felt-like light brown [[bark]], and the larger stems have attractive cinnamon-tan-orange bark that shreds and peels in thin flakes. 

Leaves are yellowish green on top and downy-white underneath. They have three, five or seven pointed [[lobes]] and are 4-12 in (1.2-30.5 cm) long and almost as wide. Plants in shade have larger leaves than those grown in sun. ''Hydrangea quercifolia'' leaves turn rich shades of red, bronze and purple in [[autumn]] that persist in winter. 

Flowers are borne in erect [[panicles]] 6-12 in (15.2-30.5 cm) tall and 3-5 in (7.6-12.7 cm) wide at branch tips. [[Flowers]] age in colour from creamy white, aging to pink and by autumn and winter are a dry, papery rusty-brown. 

Unlike bigleaf hydrangea ''([[Hydrangea macrophylla|H. macrophylla]])'', flower color does not vary with [[soil]] [[pH]]. 

==Cultivation==
''Hydrangea quercifolia'' grows best in a woodland situation on [[alkaline]] soils. 
Preferring partial to almost full shade, with morning sun and afternoon shade is best as optimum. Oakleaf hydrangea will tolerate [[drought]], but may not flower. 
Hardiness: [[USDA]] Zones 5-9. 'Snow Queen' is hardy to Zone 5; other [[cultivars]] and species may not be.
Propagation is via cutting or division..

Fresh or dry, ''hydrangea quercifolia'' is an attractive cut flower.

===Propagation===


===Pests and diseases===


==Varieties==
There are several named [[cultivars]] of ''Hydrangea quercifolia'':
:*''Pee Wee'' under 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) in height.
:*''Snow Flake'' which has 12-15 in (30.5-38.1 cm) clusters of double flowers.
:*''Snow Queen'' cold-hardy and with denser flower clusters. 

Oakleaf hydrangea and the popular peegee hydrangea ''(H. paniculata'') are the only hydrangeas with cone-shaped flower clusters; all the others have their flowers in ball-shaped or flat-topped clusters.<ref>http://www.floridata.com/ref/H/hydran_q.cfm</ref>

==Gallery==

<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Hydrangea quercifolia.jpg|''Hydrangea quercifolia''
Image:Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia).jpg|Oakleaf Hydrangea
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

{{stub}}
__NOTOC__