Propagating oakleaf hydrangeas<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\nThe oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), also called oak hydrangea, is a species of the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae). Originally it comes from the southeast of the USA and thrives in dry forests and steppes.<\/p>\n
The oakleaf hydrangea grows as an upright shrub, about 1 to 2 m high. It also becomes about 1 to 2 m wide, in the age through runner formation partly even wider. Between July and September its flowers open, which are arranged in conical to roundish, about 15 cm large flower panicles. They are composed of sterile specious flowers and fertile flowers.<\/p>\n
The specious flowers usually have 4 to 5 petals and are 3 to 4 cm in size. At the beginning of flowering, they are pure white, later they turn reddish. The fertile flowers lie close together between the specimen flowers and are less conspicuous. While the sterile flowers serve to attract insects, it is the fertile flowers that provide food for the pollinators with pollen and nectar.<\/p>\n
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The special characteristic of the oak-leaf hydrangea, which also gives it its name, is the striking shape of its leaves. The 10 to 20 cm long, about 15 cm wide leaves are firing lobed and remind strongly of the leaves of the American red oak (Quercus rubra), especially since they also turn red, dark red, or even purple in autumn.<\/p>\n
In summer, the semi-evergreen foliage is deep green on the upper side and grey-green on the underside. The upper side is wrinkly, the underside is felt-hairy. Also, the shoots have a reddish felt at first, which decreases with increasing age.<\/p>\n