Hydrangea quercifolia 'ALICE' oak-leaved (oakleaf) hydrangea
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
1,8-2,3m
usual width
2-3m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
June-September
location
full to partial sun
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangea is a sought-after flowering plant because it offers many beautiful features at once: unusually shaped leaves, abundant flowering, and attractive autumn leaf colouration. It is native to the southeastern part of the USA and was first described by the American botanist William Bartram (1739-1823) during his botanical exploration, which he conducted between 1773 and 1777 in the area of present-day Georgia. Despite being a very warm location, this hydrangea has demonstrated the ability to survive frosts far further north, down to -30 °C, and some varieties can cope with even harder frost. Its undying popularity is reflected in the new varieties that are still being bred today.Description of the plant:
Alice is an oak-leaved hydrangea developed by renowned American botanist and hydrangea lover Michael Dirr during his Giorgia Plant Introduction Programme. It is a real champion, or in fact championess as it has extra-large leaves, huge flowers, and makes substantial shrubs. Alice produces enormous foliage: 30-40 cm across. Its highly attractive, deciduous leaves are deeply lobed with conspicuous tips, leathery, rich green in spring, slightly paler in summer, and turn rich carmine red and striking burgundy red in late summer. These red leaves are held well throughout almost the entire autumn season, falling off very late – among the last deciduous shrubs.
The inflorescence is a conical panicle, 25-35 cm long and slightly arching under its weight. It is composed mainly of sterile, creamy white flowers that change to pink in midsummer and remain such until early autumn without fading.
The shrub grows vigorously into a rounded shape, about 2m tall and almost 3m wide in maturity. Its older branches reveal exfoliating bark. Pruning is not necessary, however, if you need to prune or shape the plant, do so immediately after flowering because it blooms on previous year’s wood.
Native habitat of oakleaf hydrangea ranges from moist meadows to partly waterlogged streambanks where the soil has enough nutrients. Provide similar conditions for it in your garden as well. It tolerates heavy soils well; it just may take a while to establish there. It will be happiest in partial shade, but in permanently moist soil, it will thrive even in full sun. Appropriate fertilization will enhance its beauty, but excessive feeding will result in rapid growth and weak branches. Under good conditions, the plant may produce suckers, but it is very easy to keep in place by their removal which can yield new seedlings for planting elsewhere or serve as a gift to your green-fingered friend. Fully hardy to at least -29 °C (USDA zone 5).
Last update: 12-11-2018; 28-01-2025
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