Hydrangea quercifolia W.Bartram

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Credits

Julian Sutton (2025)

Recommended citation
Sutton, J. (2025), 'Hydrangea quercifolia' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/hydrangea/hydrangea-quercifolia/). Accessed 2026-01-18.

Family

Hydrangeaceae

Genus

Hydrangea
Section Hydrangea

Common Names

Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oak-leaved Hydrangea

Infraspecifics

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

morphology: The visible form of an organism.
indigenous: Native to an area; not introduced.
inflorescence: Flower-bearing part of a plant; arrangement of flowers on the floral axis.

References

Credits

Julian Sutton (2025)

Hydrangea quercifolia is capable of exceptional autumn colour in red, orange and purple shades, best developed in areas with warm summers (Morton Arboretum, Illinois). Image John Hagstrom, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Erect, deciduous shrub, 1–2 m. Bark red-brown, peeling in flakes. Branchlets brown, densely tomentose with long, fine, reddish (sometimes white) hairs. Leaves opposite. Leaf blade suborbicular to ovate, (3–)7–26 × (3–)7–27 cm, with (3–)5(–7) lobes; base truncate to cuneate; margin coarsely serrate; apex acute to acuminate; upper surface green, glabrous or sparsely hairy; lower surface greyish, with both long, fine hairs and short, coarse ones; petiole 1–8(–13) cm, densely tomentose. Inflorescence terminal, a much-branched ovoid to conical structure 9–32 × (6–)8–14 cm, with 500–1000 flowers; both fertile and sterile flowers present; peduncle 4.5–7.5 cm. Sterile flowers largely consisting of 4 (rarely 5) large, petaloid sepals, white, greenish, pink, or reddish, obovate to broadly ovate or round, 0.5–2 × 0.5–2 cm. Fertile flowers with calyx tube ~1 mm, and deltate to triangular calyx lobes 0.5–1 mm long; petals white or cream, ~2 mm long, free, falling early; stamens 10, 3–6 mm; ovary inferior, with 2–4 locules; styles 2–4, distinct, ~2 mm. Fruit a hemispherical to suburceolate capsule, ~2 × 2 mm, dehiscing at the apex between the styles. Seeds brown, <1 mm. Flowering (April–)May–July (United States). (Freeman 2016; McClintock 1957).

Distribution United States Southeast

Habitat Deciduous forests, pine-oak forests, ravines, ledges; 20–400 m asl.

USDA Hardiness Zone 5-9

RHS Hardiness Rating H5

Conservation status Not evaluated (NE)

With its bold leaves lobed in the manner of Quercus rubra, and stout, densely hairy young shoots, Oakleaf Hydrangea is unmistakable among hardy deciduous shrubs. Panicles of creamy white flowers in summer, often ageing pinkish (stronger pink or red in some forms), and potentially splendid orange/red/purple autumn colour are important reasons for growing it. However, it is rarely seen at its best in cool maritime climates, appreciating summer warmth.

In leaf, Hydrangea quercifolia is very unlikely to be mistaken for any other species. Among woody hydrangeas, only H. sikokiana has anything even distantly approaching the pinnately lobed shape. The paniculate inflorescence with a single, elongated axis is also unusual, although H. paniculata has a similar architecture. Morphology suggests that H. quercifolia is most closely related to the H. arborescens complex (also from eastern North America), with which it shares a less obvious rare feature, the co-occurence of different hair types, (McClintock 1957). Molecular data have generally confirmed this close relationship, with the most thorough phylogenomic study to date resolving H. quercifolia as sister to the H. arborescens complex (Yang et al. 2024).

Oakleaf Hydrangea has a fairly small geographical range centred on Alabama and Mississippi but extending some way into Louisiana, southern Tennessee, western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. It is an understorey shrub of predominantly hardwood forests, usually growing on well drained soil on slopes, sometimes making dense stands by layering (Freeman 2016; Sherwood et al. 2023). Once common, many historic populations have been lost through land use changes, or are small and perhaps not regenerating (Sherwood et al. 2023). It is surprising that there are no recorded uses of this distinctive plant by indigenous people (Moerman 2003).

It was described scientifically, and recognized as a hydrangea, by the observant and open-minded botanical explorer William Bartram, who first saw it in Georgia in 1776. His account of this ‘singular and beautiful’ shrub highlights the exfoliating bark (Bartram 1794). Loudon (1838) gives 1803 as the date of introduction to Britain (and hence probably to Europe as a whole), but not the route.

Early experience suggested that this was a rather tender shrub which even in Britain was only reliable in milder areas (Haworth-Booth 1984; Bean 1981). Today, though, it seems temperature hardy across much of western Europe south of Scandinavia. Summer warmth seems important for good flowering and for autumn colour; in cooler, moister parts of western Britain it is growable but generally disappointing. Even in the southeast of England Foster (2023) advocates full sun for best flowering. A sheltered position with well drained but not droughty soil is ideal; winter waterlogging is absolutely to be avoided. Pruning is generally unnecessary and inadvisable; any minimal work should be done immediately after flowering (Dirr 2021).

In North America Oakleaf Hydrangea is a garden classic of the Deep South, and in our more northerly area can be a good garden plant right up the East Coast and into the central United States (Dirr 2021); in the Pacific Northwest as for Britain, full sun is advisable, with poor autumn colour and ‘annoyingly rangy’ habit in shade (Hinkley 2003).

Many cultivars have been named, but most have never been much grown outside the American South; we list those most likely to be seen today in our area. Forms with large inflorescences or with a high percentage of sterile flowers, plants with double flowers, stronger pink or red sepals, fine autumn colour, deeply lobed leaves or dwarf habit have all been selected. Most are chance finds, many in the wild, sometimes passed between gardeners locally for years before being picked up by nurseries: ‘Alabama is, without a doubt, “ground zero” for oakleaf discoveries’ (D. Doggett pers. comm. 2024). Even the few that are the result of controlled crosses, notably the three bred by Sandra Reed at the US National Arboretum’s Tennessee station (Reed 2010; Reed & Alexander 2015), are only a very few plant generations away from the wild. Sherwood et al. (2021) assessed genetic variability across the wild range with an eye to horticulturally desirable features, growing seedlings from 55 wild populations in trial gardens in Minnesota and Tennessee. Plant size varied, with the shortest coming from the northeastern part of the range; one population yielded several seedlings with short internodes and increased branching. Leaf spot tolerance varied, some plants being more resistant than established cultivars. While absolute cold hardiness did vary, the timing of loss of winter hardiness was much more significant. Analysis of experimental seedlings and established cultivars showed two clear groups, those which lost most cold tolerance by early February and those which kept it into April. Of nine established cultivars trialled, only ‘Brido’ (SNOWFLAKE®) and ‘Ruby Slippers’ fell into the second group.

Hydrangea quercifolia in fall at the Morton Arboretum, Illinois. Image John Hagstrom, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

With its pinnately lobed leaves, Hydrangea quercifolia cannot be confused with any other (The Valley Gardens, Windsor Great Park, UK; 23 June 2022). Image John Anderson.

There is variation in wild Hydrangea quercifolia for the number of sterile flowers and sepal size; this unnamed seedling (S Tennessee provenance) is particularly attractive (Arnold Arboretum, MA, USA – 27 June 2015). Image William (Ned) Friedman.

In cool maritime climates Hydrangea quercifolia may not flower freely, even in full sun (private garden, Ayrshire coast, UK; 24 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

The deeply lobed leaves of Hydrangea quercifolia are unique in the genus (Overbeck's, Devon, UK; 21 June 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

The inflorescence of Hydrangea quercifolia is a panicle, with a single main axis (unlabelled selected cultivar, Dartington Hall, Devon, UK; 2o July 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Exfoliating bark of Hydrangea quercifolia (RHS Garden Harlow Carr, UK; 30 April 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Hydrangea quercifolia, a species of the American Southeast (from J. Russell 251, collected Pine Mountain, Georgia, in 1980, growing where Russell planted it in Ray Wood, Castle Howard, North Yorkshire, UK; August 2023). Image John Grimshaw.

'Alice'

Sterile flowers large, spread across the heavy inflorescence, which can tend to loll outwards, ageing pink, finally brown; foliage burgundy-red in autumn (Georgia, USA). A very vigorous plant, the original more than 3.5 m tall and wide; a plant in Kent, UK, made a sprawling mound 2.5 × 3 m for Maurice Foster (2023). A seedling planted on the University of Georgia campus, selected in the 1980s by Michael Dirr and named for research technician Alice Richards. Still in commercial production on both sides of the Atlantic. (Dirr 2004, 2021; Foster 2023)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice' has large sterile flowers (Norfolk Botanical Garden, Virginia; 15 Juner 2007) Image Mark Weathington / JC Raulston Arboretum.

Good red autumn colour on Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice' (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 13 December 2007) Image Mark Weathington / JC Raulston Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice': the heavy inflorescences sometimes loll outwards (Sarah P. Duke Gardens, North Carolina; 10 June 2014) Image Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice' has large sterile flowers (Norfolk Botanical Garden, Virginia; 13 December 2007).

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice' flowering well by British standards (White House Farm, Kent, UK – 12 July 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Alison'

Sterile flowers scattered across the inflorescence, which tends to be held more upright than in ‘Alice’; selected for exceptional red autumn leaf colour (Georgia, USA); the original plant on the University of Georgia campus was 2.5–3 m tall, and very broad. Selected in the 1980s by Michael Dirr at the same time as ‘Alice’, and named for MSc student Alison Arnold. Distributed on both sides of the Atlantic, but never as widely as ‘Alice’ (Dirr 2004)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alison' has sterile flowers scattered across the inflorescence (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 7 May 2024). Image Blake Wentley / JC Raulston Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alison' with Lagerstroemia trunks in the White Garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina (30 May 2007). Image Nancy Doubrava / JC Raulston Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alison' at the JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina (9 August 2024). Image Michael Dirr.

'Amethyst'

Sterile flowers large and prominent, ageing deep red and holding the colour when dry; relatively compact, under 2m height and breadth. Selected before 2000 by Michael Dirr. Still in commercial production on both sides of the Atlantic. (Dirr 2004; Hydrangea Derby 2024; Association Shamrock 2022)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Amethyst' at the Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania. 31 October 2025. Image Tom Christian.

'Applause'

Long inflorescences with large, conspicuous, white sterile flowers and green fertile flowers; leaves deeply lobed, with a wrinkled texture. Much like ‘Flemygea’; said to be an old unnamed cultivar named by Rein & Mark Bulk, the Netherlands, about 1980; mainly distributed in Europe. (Dirr 2004; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 2004; Association Shamrock 2022)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Applause' has long inflorescences with large, conspicuous, white sterile flowers (Arboretum Wespelaar, Belgium; 22 July 2015). Image Koen Camelbeke (Arboretum Wespelaar).

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Applause' has deeply lobed, heavily textured leaves (Arboretum Wespelaar, Belgium; 22 July 2015). Image Koen Camelbeke (Arboretum Wespelaar).

'Biv01'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia TARA™

Flowers apparently all sterile, white and densely packed into shortly conical inflorescences; autumn foliage bronze to red in suitable climates; stems claimed to be stronger than in ‘Harmony’. Selected in or before 2012 by Tara Bivin, an unnamed plant in an Alabama garden. Protected by US Plant Patent 30,565 and European Plant Breeders’ Rights. (Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Biv01' (TARA™) in flower at Pépinière Stervinou, France (21 June 2025). Image Yves-Marie Stervinou.

'Brenhill'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia GATSBY GAL®
Hydrangea quercifolia GATSBY GIRL

Sterile flowers large, white, not entirely covering the inflorescence. Compact (under 2 m height), and comparable to the widely grown ‘Flemygea’: while the patent application claims that it is earlier flowering, with larger inflorescences and sterile flowers than ‘Flemygea’, Dirr (2021) concludes that ‘Flemygea’ is ‘a better plant’. An open pollinated seedling selected 1998 by Doug & Brenda Hill (hence the cultivar name) of Blackwood Crossing Nursery, Alabama; marketed on a large scale much later. Protected by US Plant Patent 25,106 and Canadian Plant Breeders’ Rights (Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

A young plant of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brenhill' (Morton Arboretum, IL, United States; 6 June 2018). Image Deborah J.G. Brown, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

'Brido'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia SNOWFLAKE®
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Giant' (probably)

Awards
AGM

All flowers sterile, double, with multiple sepals arranged along elongated axes, white ageing green then brown, rarely with any pink; inflorescences to 40 cm, heavy and tending to hang; orange/red/purple autumn leaf colour possible. Plant size seems to vary a great deal from site to site, but this is widely considered a robust and beautiful cultivar, the best of the doubles. A wild find at Turkey Creek, Pinson, Alabama, brought in the 1960s to nurseryman Eddie Aldridge and his father, today a signature plant at the Aldridge Gardens in the outskirts of Birmingham, AL. It was originally protected by early, long-expired US Plant Patent 3,047; Aldridge explained that this was purely to attract attention to the plant – he never received or hoped to receive royalties. The origin of the name ‘Brido’ is a mystery even to Alabama hydrangea enthusiasts who knew the Aldridges. (Dirr 2004; Foster 2023; Google Patents 2023; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 2004; Splond 2022; D. Doggett, R. Weaver pers. comms. 2024)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brido' (SNOWFLAKE®) has only sterile flowers, which are double with multiple sepals arranged along elongated axes (Morton Arboretum, IL, United States; 1 July 2015). Image Deborah J.G. Brown, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Double sterile flowers of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brido' (SNOWFLAKE®) (Morton Arboretum, IL, United States; 1 July 2015). Image Deborah J.G. Brown, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Ageing flowers of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brido' (SNOWFLAKE®) (Morton Arboretum, IL, United States; 2 August 2017). Image Deborah J.G. Brown, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

The heavy inflorescences of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brido' (SNOWFLAKE®) tend to hang down. Image Maurice Foster.

Autumn colour on Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brido' (SNOWFLAKE®) at the Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania. 31 October 2025. Image Tom Christian.

'Brother Edward'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia GATSBY MOON®

All flowers sterile, white, densely packed in heavy, pyramidal inflorescences which pull the branches down; more compact than the similar ‘Harmony’, 1.8–2.5 m tall. An open pollinated seedling selected 1993 by Doug & Brenda Hill, Alabama; marketed on a large scale much later. Protected by US Plant Patent 25,413 and Canadian Plant Breeders’ Rights. (Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brother Edward' has very large leaves and inflorescences, but remained green when seen at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, on 31 October 2025 when many other selections were showing autumn colour. Image Tom Christian.

'Burgundy'

Sterile flowers large, scattered across the inflorescence, white ageing pink; leaves shiny, turning a good deep red in autumn; sparsely branched, to about 2 m tall. An old clone named in 1995 by Rein & Mark Bulk, the Netherlands (Dirr 2004; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 2004). The leaves colour well on a north facing slope where several other cultivars do not, for Richard Pitts in Devon, UK (pers. comm. 2023).

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Burgundy' beginning to develop autumn colour in a warm, sunny corner at Darley Park, Derby, UK – 28 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Doughill'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia GATSBY STAR®

Sterile flowers double, white, dominating but not entirely covering the inflorescence as in ‘Brido’; sepals with acute apices (obtuse in ‘Brido’); inflorescences to 25 cm long. An open pollinated seedling selected 1990 by Doug & Brenda Hill, Alabama (hence the cultivar name); marketed on a large scale much later. Protected by US Plant Patent 25,412 and Canadian Plant Breeders’ Rights. (Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

'Flemygea'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia SNOW QUEEN®

Awards
AGM

Sterile flowers large, not fully covering the inflorescence, maturing pink; fertile flowers green; inflorescences 15–20 cm long, held up reasonably well on strongly growing plants; height 2–2.5 m. Selected before 1978 at Princeton Nurseries, New Jersey. Protected by the early, long-expired US Plant Patent 4,458 but its quality ensures that it is still widely available in Europe and North America. (Dirr 2004, 2021; Foster 2023; Google Patents 2023; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 2004)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' (SNOW QUEEN) demonstrating why this fine cultivar has endured (Morton Arboretum, Illinois). Image John Hagstrom, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' (SNOW QUEEN) still beautiful later in the season (Morton Arboretum, Illinois). Image Jeff Franklin, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Autumn colour in Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' (SNOW QUEEN) (Morton Arboretum, Illinois). Image John Hagstrom, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' (SNOW QUEEN): the inflorescence is dominated but not covered by the large sterile flowers (Arnold Arboretum, MA, USA – 1 July 2020). Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

Sterile flowers of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' (SNOW QUEEN) mature to pink (Arnold Arboretum, MA, USA – 19 August 2016). Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

Sterile flowers of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' (SNOW QUEEN) finally age to brown (Arnold Arboretum, MA, USA – 22 August 2022). Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' (SNOW QUEEN) leaf (Arnold Arboretum, MA, USA – 19 August 2016). Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

'Harmony'

Most flowers sterile, white, packed into dense but often irregular and ‘lumpy’ inflorescences, sometimes ageing pinkish; the weight of the heads tends to pull down the branches; vigorous when well suited. Found before 1950 in the cemetery of Harmony Baptist Church, Attalla, Alabama; Illinois plantsman Joe McDaniel, his father T.A.McDaniel of Alabama, and Alabama nurseryman Eddie Aldridge all seem to have had a hand in naming and promoting the plant. A flawed classic. (Dirr 2004; Foster 2023; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 2004; Association Shamrock 2022; D. Doggett, R. Weaver pers. comms. 2024)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Harmony' has masses of sterile flowers packed into dense but often irregular and 'lumpy' inflorescences. Image Maurice Foster.

The heavy inflorescences of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Harmony' tend to flop over (private garden, Ayrshire, UK; 24 August 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'Hqopr010'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia ICE CRYSTAL®

Leaves deeply divided. Most flowers fertile; sterile flowers white, sometimes ageing pink then brown; autumn foliage red in suitable climates. Found in Alabama (Association Shamrock 2022); named 2008 by Belgian nurseryman Jan Oprins. Mass marketed in Europe, occasionally available in North America. Protected by European Plant Breeders’ Rights. (Dirr 2021; Havlis 2024)

Early autumn tints in Hydrangea quercifolia 'Hqopr010' (ICE CRYSTAL®) (17 September 2016). Image Koen Camelbeke (Arboretum Wespelaar).

Deeply divided young leaves on Hydrangea quercifolia 'Hqopr010' (ICE CRYSTAL®) (nursery stock at the Oprins nursery, Belgium; 9 August 2017). Image Koen Camelbeke (Arboretum Wespelaar).

'JoAnn'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia GATSBY PINK®

Sterile flowers large, scattered across the inflorescence, white, typically becoming deep pink; foliage red in autumn. Most similar to ‘Ruby Slippers’, which is shorter and has redder flowers. Selected 1999 by Alan Branhagen at Powell Gardens, Missouri; mass marketed much later. Protected by US Plant Patent 27,879 and European Plant Breeders’ Rights (Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'JoAnn' (GATSBY PINK®) has white flowers which typically turn pink as they age (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 1 June 2019). Image Maryann Debski / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'JoAnn' (GATSBY PINK®) at the JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina (1 June 2019). Image Maryann Debski / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

'Little Honey'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brihon'

Leaves yellow-green, eventually ageing green, with deep red autumn colour in suitable areas. Compact habit, to around 1.2 m tall. Sterile flowers large, not fully covering the inflorescence, white sometimes ageing pink. One of two apparently identical tissue culture sports of ‘Pee Wee’ found in a single batch produced in 1999 at Briggs Nurseries, Washington State – the second reached a British nursery before being noticed. Protected by US Plant Patent 15477. It seems much less clear than usual whether ‘Little Honey’ or ‘Brihon’ is the formal cultivar name. (Dirr 2021; Missouri Botanical Garden 2024; Google Patents 2023).

The yellow-green young leaves of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey'. The foliage will turn greener as it ages. Grown by Brian Humphrey in Suffolk, UK (17 June 2014). Image John Anderson.

'Munchkin'

A very compact, dense plant, the serious and not directly commercial breeder claiming 0.9 m height, 1.4 m breadth after 9 years. Sterile flowers scattered across the upright inflorescence, white ageing mid-pink; foliage red in autumn. An open pollinated seedling of ‘Sikes Dwarf’ raised 1999 by Sandra Reed of the US National Arboretum’s Tennessee-based breeding programme; introduced 2010 (US National Arboretum 2024; Reed 2010). Although Michael Dirr (2021) claims ‘beautiful plant but too slow for commercial production’ it is now in the mass market on both sides of the Atlantic and in Australia, probably through tissue culture.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Munchkin' (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 2 June 2018). Image Maryann Debski / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Munchkin', a very compact cultivar (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 2 June 2018). Image Maryann Debski / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

'Pee Wee'

Compact, 1–1.5 m in height, with rather small leaves and tending to sucker less than others. Sterile flowers largely covering the inflorescence, white ageing pink, finally brown; red/purple autumn leaf colour is possible. Introduced before 2002 by Richard Scott and Russell Blue of Alabama Nursery, a find on their own land (Dirr 2004; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 2004; Missouri Botanical Garden 2024; Association Shamrock 2022; Pleasant Run Nursery 2024; D. Dogget, R. Weaver pers. comms. 2024)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' in early flower (Morton Arboretum, Illinois). Image Jeff Franklin, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Flowers aged brown in Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' (Morton Arboretum, Illinois; 19 October 2016). Image Deborah J.G. Brown, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' is one of the more compact cultivars, and less prone to suckering than some (Morton Arboretum, Illinois; 19 October 2016). Image Deborah J.G. Brown, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

Inflorescence of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' (Arnold Arboretum, MA, USA; 27 June 2015). Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

'Piihq-I'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia JETSTREAM®

Sterile flowers large, more or less covering the 15–20 cm inflorescences, white ageing pink; foliage red in autumn, sometimes spectacularly so. Height claimed as 1.5–1.8 m. Uniform from tissue culture, and apparently resistant to Cercospora leaf spot. Raised 2007 by Plant Introductions Inc, Georgia, USA, derived from seedlings of ‘Ruby Slippers’. Protected by US Plant Patent 25,319. (Dirr 2021; Google Patents 2023; Missouri Botanical Garden 2024)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Piihq-I' (JETSTREAM®) has large sterile flowers which almost cover the long inflorescences (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 9 June 2019). Image Nancy Doubrava / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Piihq-I' (JETSTREAM®) has large sterile flowers which almost cover the long inflorescences (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 8 June 2020). Image Tim Alderton / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

'Queen of Hearts'

Sterile flowers large, covering the 20 cm long inflorescences, white ageing deep pink; foliage red in autumn. Height and spread claimed as 2 × 2.7 m after 10 years. A second generation seedling from ‘Flemygea’ × ‘Pee Wee’ raised by Sandra Reed (US National Arboretum); introduced 2013. (US National Arboretum 2024; Reed & Alexander 2015)

'Ruby Slippers'

Sterile flowers plentiful but not fully covering the 20 cm long inflorescences, white ageing red-pink; foliage red in autumn. Compact, but less so than ‘Munchkin’, height and spread claimed as 1.1 × 2.1 m after 7 years. A second generation seedling from ‘Flemygea’ × ‘Pee Wee’ raised by Sandra Reed (US National Arboretum); introduced 2010. (US National Arboretum 2024; Reed 2010)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers' (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 26 May 2023). Image Ira Tucker / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

Autumn leaf colour in Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers' (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 5 December 2021). Image Ira Tucker / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

'Semmes Beauty'

Sterile flowers scattered across the long inflorescences. A large, vigorous plant with proven heat tolerance in the hottest parts of the Deep South. Named for Semmes, Alabama, close to the Gulf Coast, before 2004; perhaps introduced by Semmes nurseryman Tom Dodd. (Dirr 2004; Bunting 2014; R. Weaver pers. comm. 2024)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Semmes Beauty', a large, vigorous cultivar with proven heat tolerance (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 14 May 2017). Image Maryann Debski / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

The long inflorescence of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Semmes Beauty' (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 19 May 2014). Image Tim Alderton / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

'Sikes Dwarf'

One of the first dwarfs, along with ‘Pee Wee’ which has smaller inflorescences; height to about 1.2 m. Sterile flowers white. Distributed by Louisiana Nurseries before 1990, it originated with Alabama Hemerocallis specialist Sarah Sikes (hence “Sike’s Dwarf” as often seen is incorrect). (Dirr 2004; Bunting 2014; R. Weaver pers. comm. 2024)

Compact growing Hydrangea quercifolia 'Sikes Dwarf', with inflorescences of H.q. 'Flemygea' in the left foreground (Arboretum Wespelaar, Belgium; 22 July 2015). Image Koen Camelbeke (Arboretum Wespelaar).

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Sikes Dwarf' is relatively compact but has quite small inflorescences (Morton Arboretum, Illinois). Image Jeff Franklin, Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum.

'Tennessee Clone'

Synonyms / alternative names
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Tennessee'

Sterile flowers scattered across the long, broad inflorescences, white becoming green or pinkish. Height to about 2 m. Raised 1974 by Jelena and Robert de Belder, Belgium, from seed collected in Tennessee. Distributed mainly in Europe; there may be several clones going around under this name. (Dirr 2004, Foster 2023; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 2004)

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Tennessee Clone' has sterile flowers scattered across the long, broad inflorescences. Image Maurice Foster.

'Turkey Heaven'

Most flowers sterile, white, packed into dense inflorescences which are larger and more rounded than in ‘Harmony’; also less floppy (Dirr 2004). Collected on Turkey Heaven Mountain, Cleburne Co., Alabama in the 1940s or 1950s and passed around locally by the Fordham family of Anniston, AL; named and more widely distributed by Hayes Jackson, who was given it by Clara Fordham – keen to allow unrestricted propagation, she refused a nursery’s offer to patent it (H. Jackson pers. comm. 2024).

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Turkey Heaven' has dense inflorescences packed with sterile flowers (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 14 May 2017). Image Maryann Debski / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Turkey Heaven' proves less floppy than 'Harmony' (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 4 June 2015). Image Todd Glenn / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

Leaf of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Turkey Heaven' (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 2 May 2017). Image Susan Bailey / The JC Raulston Arboretum.

Autumn colour in Hydrangea quercifolia 'Turkey Heaven' (JC Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina; 30 November 2022). Image Suzanne Edney / The JC Raulston Arboretum.