Ruby Slippers oakleaf hydrangea

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. Tolerates more sun in cool climates if the soil stays moist.

Water

Keep evenly moist during establishment and water deeply during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate some dryness, but not persistent waterlogging.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Avoid wet clay and very dry, shallow soil.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m)

Flowers

Late spring through summer; upright, cone-shaped clusters open white, age pink and deepen to rose-red. Colour development varies with weather and exposure.

Foliage

Large, deeply lobed, oak-like green leaves with softly hairy undersides; usually burgundy, red or purple in autumn.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• 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 ft (0.61 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.4 ft (0.72 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.7 ft (0.83 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (1.1 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 whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Top-dress with compost in spring; use a modest amount of balanced fertiliser only if growth is weak.
• Provide afternoon shade in hot climates and shelter from drying winds.
• Leave enough space for its broad mature spread rather than repeatedly clipping it back.

Pruning. Flowers form on old wood, so prune only if needed, immediately after flowering; shorten selected stems rather than shearing the whole shrub. Remove dead or winter-damaged wood in spring once live buds are visible.

Spring

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

Mid-spring

Check for live buds before removing winter-killed stem tips; top-dress with compost.

Summer

Water deeply during dry spells, especially on recently planted shrubs.

After flowering

If necessary, remove a few awkward stems or shorten branches before next year's flower buds develop.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil is warm; keep fallen diseased leaves out of the mulch.

Winter

Leave healthy stems and dried flower heads intact; protect young plants from exposed, drying conditions.

• Plant beneath high-canopied deciduous trees where it receives filtered light without severe root competition.
• Use as a compact foundation shrub, allowing room for its spreading branches beside paths and windows.
• Group in a mixed border with ferns, sedges and spring-flowering perennials for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Place where its autumn foliage and peeling bark can be seen from the house.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Small-space, Traditional, Cottage garden, Autumn colour and Southern.

Plant it with: Christmas fern, Japanese forest grass, Coral bells, Foamflower, Hellebores and Hostas.

Wildlife: Its dense growth offers shelter for small birds and other garden wildlife. The showy flowers are largely sterile, so it is not a strong choice for providing nectar and pollen.

• Few flowers: winter damage, deep shade or pruning at the wrong time can remove flower buds; choose a sheltered, brighter site and prune only after flowering.
• Leaf scorch or persistent wilting: check soil moisture, water deeply when dry and provide afternoon shade in hot locations.
• Fungal leaf spots: improve airflow, water at soil level and remove fallen affected leaves; minor spotting rarely needs treatment.
• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage or move the shrub to a raised planting area; do not keep the root zone saturated.

Toxic if eaten by cats, dogs, horses or people. All parts contain cyanogenic compounds, particularly leaves and flower buds; ingestion usually causes digestive upset, but larger amounts can cause serious poisoning. Seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)

  Also bears cone-shaped flowers that may turn pink, but its leaves are oval and pointed rather than deeply oak-lobed; it generally flowers later on new growth.

• Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)

  Has unlobed, broadly oval leaves and rounded or flattened flower heads rather than the elongated cones and oak-like leaves of Ruby Slippers.

Hydrangea refers to a water vessel, describing the seed capsules, while quercifolia means oak-leaved and refers to the lobed foliage.

Propagation. Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or by layering a low branch. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's compact habit and flower characteristics.

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.