Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Oakleaf’

The Oak Leaf Hydrangea is a white flowering large leaf shrub which is better suited to the Aussie climate, as it tolerates the heat and dryness of our summers better than other Hydrangeas. It is named for its interesting, oak leaf shaped foliage, which also have great autumn colour.

While most other Hydrangea varieties lose their leaves quickly in winter, the Oak Leaf Hydrangea is almost evergreen, and puts on a lovely show of bronze autumn colour that can last for months. The video here was shot in early July, showing a batch of 8″ Potted Oakleaf Hydrangeas still retaining their foliage even well into winter.

Oakleaf Hydrangeas tolerate more sun than other Hydrangeas, but still do better with a bit of afternoon shade. They do not tolerate “wet feet” and will not survive badly drained, boggy soil. They can reach a height and spread of 4 to 6 feet (120 to 180 cm) in Melbourne, Victoria.

Oakleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are best pruned immediately after flowering. This allows you to enjoy the beautiful blooms during the growing season, and pruning later in the season or in winter may remove the flower buds for the following year. You can selectively prune them to shape the plant or control its size, but keep in mind that Oakleaf Hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so avoid heavy pruning that removes a significant portion of the branches, as this can reduce flowering.