Oakleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Also called Hydrangea quercifolia and Oak-leaved hydrangea
Garden plant · ShrubsIT IS THE ONE HYDRANGEA WORTH GROWING FOR AUTUMN — the leaves turn wine-red and hold for weeks after the flowers have gone brown. Leave the dead heads on; they carry the shrub through winter and the birds work them over.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 3 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Part shade
- Feed
- Every 30 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 2 m tall · 2 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- The south-eastern United States
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy. The cyanogenic glycoside is in the leaves, flowers and buds.
PeopleIrritates skin
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.