Gatsby Gal oakleaf hydrangea

Sun

Partial shade or full sun with adequate moisture; afternoon shade is helpful in hot climates.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Once established, water deeply during extended dry spells, especially in sunny positions; avoid waterlogged soil.

Soil

Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil, preferably acidic to neutral. Avoid compacted ground and sites that remain wet through winter.

Height

5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m)

Spread

5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m)

Flowers

Early to midsummer; large cones of white flowers gradually develop pink tones, then dry to tan. Timing varies with climate.

Foliage

Large, deeply lobed green leaves with softly hairy undersides; autumn colour ranges from red and burgundy to purple, depending on climate and exposure.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.4 ft (0.73 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (0.96 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

5. After 5 years

   5 ft (1.7 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply through the first growing season, keeping the root zone moist but not saturated.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of leaf mould or composted bark over the roots, keeping it clear of the stems.
• If growth is weak, apply a light dressing of balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Shelter from drying winds and strong afternoon sun in hot regions.
• In colder gardens, choose a sheltered position to reduce winter damage to flower buds.

Pruning. Flowers form on old wood, so prune only if necessary, immediately after flowering, shortening selected stems rather than shearing the whole shrub. Remove dead wood in spring once new growth shows which stems have survived.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable, water thoroughly and mulch the root zone.

Mid-spring

Check for winter damage once buds open, and remove dead stems.

Early summer

Check soil moisture regularly as flower heads develop, especially during the first year.

After flowering

Make any necessary size-reduction cuts promptly, leaving most stems untouched for next year's flowers.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while soil is warm, or replenish mulch around established shrubs.

Winter

Leave healthy stems unpruned to preserve flower buds; retain dried flower heads if you enjoy their winter outline.

• Plant at a woodland edge with ferns and sedges for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Use as a substantial flowering shrub in a mixed border, allowing space for its full width.
• Group several plants as an informal screen in partial shade.
• Place near a path or terrace where autumn foliage and peeling bark can be seen.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, English country, Southern, Cottage garden, Autumn colour and White garden.

Plant it with: Christmas fern, Japanese forest grass, Coral bells, Foamflower, Solomon's seal and Virginia sweetspire.

Wildlife: The small fertile flowers within the showy flower heads can provide food for visiting insects. Established shrubs also offer shelter for small birds.

• Few or no flowers: winter-killed buds, late pruning or deep shade are common causes; provide shelter, improve light if needed and prune only just after flowering.
• Brown leaf edges or persistent wilting: check for dry soil and hot afternoon exposure; water deeply and mulch, but check drainage before adding more water.
• Leaf spots or powdery mildew: allow air circulation, water at soil level and remove fallen affected leaves; light infections rarely need treatment.
• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage or move the shrub to a better-drained position rather than keeping its roots saturated.

Toxic if eaten by people, cats, dogs and horses. Leaves, flower buds and other plant parts contain cyanogenic compounds; ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. Severe poisoning is uncommon, but seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Snow Queen oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea')

  Also has upright, mostly single white flower heads, but generally forms a larger shrub. Young plants are difficult to distinguish reliably without a cultivar label.

• Snowflake oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brido')

  Its showy florets have layered, double-looking sepals, and the heavy flower heads tend to arch or droop more than Gatsby Gal's.

• Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)

  It also bears cone-shaped flower heads, but its leaves are oval and pointed rather than deeply lobed like oak leaves.

The species name quercifolia means oak-leaved, referring to the lobed foliage that also gives oakleaf hydrangea its common name.

Propagation. Softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or layering, preserve the cultivar's characteristics; seed does not come true. This is a patented cultivar in some markets, so check current plant breeders' rights and patent restrictions before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Hydrangea quercifolia

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Measured

Soil pH 4.6 to 7.5. Average height 183 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.