Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'
- expected April
Oakleaf Hydrangea is an attractive deciduous shrub native to the American South. Bold, large, oak-shaped leaves give this hardy plant an almost tropical appearance. Leaves emerge light green in spring, darken to a deep green, then turn the most beautiful shade of deep red in fall. This shrub pleases through all the seasons: peeling cinnamon-colored bark nicely complements the dried flower panicles.
Flowers on old wood; prune just after flowering to maintain shape if desired.
'Ruby Slippers' is a perfect option for smaller gardens as it reaches only a few feet high and wide. Large white panicles of flowers quickly turn pink then slowly mature to a deep ruby hue.
*Hardy to zone 5, but should be sited in a protected location or otherwise protected in the first few years as it becomes fully established.
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Type: Deciduous Shrub
Height: 2 to 4 ft.
Spread: 2 to 5 ft.
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Conditions: Average, medium, well-drained soil
Bloom Time: June to July
Bloom Color: White to Pink
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Image Credits:
- Image 1 (white bloom) F. D. Richards from Clinton, MI, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
- Image 2 (red bloom) Wikiproject1400 at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons