In bloom
Oakleaf hydrangea blooms can add elegance to any ornamental garden.
Photo by L.A. Jackson
When it comes to a woody ornamental with regional roots that is not only dependable but also dependably pretty, for me, oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) gets high marks. Native to the Southeast, it has come out of the woods to charm South Carolina gardeners with grace and, yes, even a tad of pizzazz.
Oakleaf hydrangea—so-called because its deeply lobed foliage has the look of large oak leaves—is a deciduous shrub that, depending on the cultivar, can top out at around 4 feet to 8 feet high. It is a true hydrangea, but, unlike the common French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) with pink, purple or blue blooms, the oakleaf’s blossoms shimmer in shades of white accented by faded petals tinting to pleasant hues of light green, pink or tan.
Being an indigenous pretty, oakleaf hydrangea is a tough plant that can be placed in almost any landscape scheme. However, it will perform better in a well-draining area. Also, while this shrub can take some sun, being located in a spot that receives shady relief from the scorching afternoon summer sun will prolong its flower show.
Pruning will, of course, keep an oakleaf within intended bounds. Since new blossoms originate on wood formed the previous season, the best time to clip is when the flowers start to fade.
Now, about that pizzazz. While blooming, oakleaf hydrangea exhibits botanical elegance and refinement, but truth be told, it has a sassy streak. In the fall, while other hydrangeas simply fizzle away visually, the oakleaf goes out in a blaze of glory. Bronze, red, purple, burgundy—these are the dazzling colors that adorn the autumnal coats of various cultivars.
And while the foliage of most oakleaf hydrangea cultivars remains sedately green during the growing season, Little Honey (about 4 feet high and wide) is one selection that shows its sassy side starting early in the spring. Its new leaves emerge electric yellow and then temper to a handsome chartreuse before flaming out in shades of deep red during the fall.
I have seen Little Honey, along with other oakleaf hydrangea cultivars, such as the popular Alice, the aptly named Snow Queen as well as shorties like Munchkin and Pee Wee, at big-box garden centers and many independent nurseries, so, if you include online shopping options, they are easy finds in the spring.
March in the Garden
• Sharpening the blade on your lawn mower will have two positive effects: 1) The mower will operate more efficiently, thus use less gas and cause less air pollution; and 2) the blade will cleanly cut rather than tear grass, which leaves ragged ends that can invite diseases to come out and play.
• Begin adding summer annuals to the garden this month, but don’t be so quick to tuck mulch around newbie plantings. Leave the soil uncovered until at least the beginning of May so ol’ Sol can warm up the growing ground and help jumpstart heat-loving seeds and plants.
• Give the birdbath a good cleaning early in March and do the same for your bird feeders. In particular, wash out any old seed that might have gunked up the bottoms of feeder trays during the winter.
Tip of the Month
Like oakleaf hydrangeas, it is best to prune other early blooming woody ornamentals such as azaleas, camellias (Camellia japonica), forsythias, deutzias, ornamental cherries, mock oranges, spiraeas, dogwoods, kerrias, witch hazels, flowering quinces and weigelas after their blossoms begin to wane. To preserve such a plant’s natural flow and shape, leave the hedge trimmer in the shed and use hand pruners or loppers to individually cut any overreaching branch back to a bud nodule or limb junction.
L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener magazine. Contact him at lajackson1@gmail.com.