Oakleaf Hydrangea

Description:

In summer, oakleaf hydrangea flowers in clusters, and the white flowers fade to a pinkish-brown in fall. The plant's distinguishing characteristic is its oak leaf-shaped foliage. The leathery leaves are large and turn purple, orangey-bronze or red in the fall. These shrubs routinely achieve a height of 4'-6' and a spread of 4'-6', but can grow to be larger than that. They are multi-stemmed shrubs, and the branches can shoot out from the center in any direction. Exfoliating bark offers winter interest, as well as spring interest (before the plant fully leafs out).

Habitat:

Growing in the understory at Blue Springs State Park.