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Have you seen the most gorgeous Hydrangea?

For years I heard gardeners in the East Coast raving about Oak Leaf Hydrangea. Two years ago, I decided that I should have this gorgeous plant in my garden (San Jose, California) along with the mop heads and the lace-cap hydrangeas that I already have in my garden. During one of my visits to Petaluma, my friend Christie took me to a nursery known for selling unusual plants. To my sheer delight, I found just one oak leaf hydrangea. It is one of the prized possessions in my garden. Now, I have quite a few plants to rave about! I have the National flower of India (Jasmine), the National flower of the USA (rose), and the State wild flower of Alabama (Oak Leaf Hydrangea).

The medium-size (six to eight feet tall) deciduous shrub is found in every section of Alabama. William Bartram was the first to notice this plant (in the 1770's) and he named it Hydrangea quercifolia (querci- oak, and folia - leaf). After, almost two centuries I had the good fortune to come across this gorgeous plant! Yes, I fell in love with the plant when we visited Alabama in 1990.

The plant will grow in USDA zone 5-9. I am not really sure whether South Bay is zone 9 or zone 10. Whatever it is, the plant is quite happy in my garden. It has been producing the gorgeous inflorescences that simply light up the corner outside my living room.

It starts producing masses of snow-white blooms on huge spikes of almost one-foot length. The fertile flowers are not as conspicuous as the sterile white flowers. The flowers change color as they age, develop a rosy pink hue within four to six weeks, and then tan.

It prefers partial to full sun. I grow it as an under-planting close to the Pussy willow tree. It will grow in most soils, but prefers well-drained moisture-retentive soil. Like most other Hydrangeas, it is an acid loving plant but tolerates alkaline soil. I use mostly compost, no other special fertilizer.

It is a beautiful shrub with huge leaves similar to the leaves of oak. It is a deciduous shrub in the South Eastern parts of the USA; however, I have never seen the plant shedding its leaves in my garden. The plant is frost hardy. I prune it lightly in late December. It does not seem to affect bloom production in my garden. According to gardeners in the East Coast, spring or winter pruning will destroy the blooming tips.
New leaf buds appear as silvery spires in spring. The leaf buds unfurl into glistening lime-green leaflets that mature into broad, dark-green lobed leaves with silver, furry undersides. They turn brilliant colors of red, bronze, gold and maroon in fall, depending on the weather conditions. However, in San Jose, I do not see such remarkable transformation of colors. The bark of mature stems and graceful branches shed a papery tissue in winter to reveal a new cinnamon-colored bark for yet another seasonal interest.

It starts producing masses of snow-white blooms on huge spikes of almost one-foot length. The fertile flowers are not as conspicuous as the sterile white flowers. The blooms change in color as they age, developing a rosy pink hue within four to six weeks, and then to tan. Collect the flowers for drying as they turn pink. As the water in the vase evaporates, the flowers dries. No need to hang them upside down.

I love propagating plants by cuttings. One can easily propagate the Oak Leaf Hydrangea with softwood cuttings. Take cuttings from non - flowering canes some time in July. If you live in California, you may do the propagation in October or November. I always do vegetative propagation when the weather is cool. Vegetative propagation is the best way of sharing a part of your garden with your friends and relatives. I mostly do it for sentimental reasons.

Every plant lover should have this gorgeous trouble free plant of all seasons in her or his garden.