oakleaf hydrangea

Oakleaf Hydrangea plants require moderate watering, usually once a week. Make sure the soil stays moist yet not overly wet or soggy. During the summer months, water your Oakleaf Hydrangea deeply and thoroughly, letting the water run through the root zone. During the dormant season, which is late fall to early spring, reduce your watering to once every 2 weeks. During especially hot and dry conditions, additional watering may be necessary. Oakleaf Hydrangeas should be well-watered during extreme temperatures, ideally by supplying a slow trickle of water for several hours.

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers') grows best in full sun to part shade. For this plant species, it’s ideal to locate a spot that receives morning sun and filters out afternoon sunlight. In general, this cultivar tends to do best with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day during the summer months and should be placed in a location where it can get indirect sunlight for much of the day. The morning sun is ideal because it brings out the ruby red color of the hydrangea’s leaves. Too much direct sunlight in the afternoons can result in burnt leaves and flowers.

Oakleaf hydrangeas are best pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Pruning assists in maintaining a strong structure and limits potential disease problems. Remove any winter damaged or dead stems. Then remove up to 1/3 of the oldest stems at ground level to promote new growth. Take care to avoid removing significant amount of green wood. Also, prune new and old stems to the desired height. After flowering, deadhead if desired or leave spent blooms for winter interest.