North Carolina Botanical Garden

Plant Index

Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Genus:
Family:

Hydrangea quercifolia

Hydrangea quercifolia W. Bartram

oakleaf hydrangea

Cultivar(s): Alice, Dayspring, Snow Queen, Snowflake

Image ID: 8655
Image by: Cotterman, Laura
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library

PLANT INDEX

ID_PLANT: HYQU3
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hydrangea quercifolia
Include in WOTAS: 0
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2018-08-17

CULTIVAR INDEX

Cult_id	Cultivar_name	Action
1375	Alice	View
1376	Dayspring	View
1377	Snow Queen	View
1378	Snowflake	View

GENUS INDEX

GENUS CODE: HYDRA
GENUS SCIENTIFIC: Hydrangea
GENUS AUTHORITY: L.
GENUS COMMON: Hydrangea
GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 45 species, shrubs and lianas, of e. North America and e. Asia. Molecular analyses have long suggested that Hydrangea as usually interpreted is polyphyletic (Soltis, Xiang, & Hufford 1995; Samain, Wanke, & Goetghebeur 2010) and should be circumscribed more broadly to include other genera in tribe Hydrangeeae that are phylogenetically embedded (including, in our area, Decumaria); this approach has been further developed and formalized by De Smet et al. (2015), an approach followed here (generic and sectional circumscriptions follow De Smet et al. 2015). See Dirr (2004) and van Gelderen & van Gelderen (2004) for information on cultivated hydrangeas.
GENUS IDENTIFICATION: Identification notes: Hydrangea barbara is readily distinguished from the other opposite-leaved, woody vines in our flora (Gelsemium, Trachelospermum, Lonicera, Bignonia, Campsis, and Clematis) by its leaves (simple, ovate, and usually serrate) and climbing structures (adventitious roots).
GENUS REFERENCES: Freeman in FNA (in prep.); McGregor in FNA (in prep.); Pilatowski (1982)=Z; McClintock (1957)=Y; Hufford in Kubitzki (2004).

FAMILY INDEX

FAMILY CODE: HYDRAN
FAMILY SCIENTIFIC: Hydrangeaceae
FAMILY AUTHORITY: Dumortier 1829
FAMILY COMMON: Hydrangea Family
FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 17 genera and 190-220 species, trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs, primarily north temperate. As here interpreted, the family Hydrangeaceae includes two well-marked groups, the Hydrangeae (including Decumaria and Hydrangea) and the Philadelpheae (including Deutzia and Philadelphus). This group has been shown by molecular research to be unrelated to the Saxifragaceae, and to have its closest affinities to the Loasaceae, Cornaceae, and Nyssaceae (Xiang et al. 2002; Soltis, Xiang, & Hufford 1995; Morgan & Soltis 1993).
FAMILY REFERENCE: Freeman in FNA (in prep.); Spongberg (1972); Soltis, Xiang, & Hufford (1995); Morgan & Soltis (1994); Xiang et al. (2002); Hufford in Kubitzki (2004).

NCBG DESCRIPTIVES

INTRO:
STEMS:
LEAVES:
INFLORESCENCE:
FLOWERS:
FRUITS:
COMMENTS:
HEIGHT: 6-8 ft.; width 6-8 ft.

DURATION: Perennial
HABIT: Shrub

LEAF ARRANGEMENT:
LEAF COMPLEXITY:
LEAF RETENTION: Deciduous

FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
BLOOM TIME: May-July

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
				x	x	x

BLOOM COLOR: White flowers

White	Red	Pink	Orange	Yellow	Green	Blue	Lavender	Purple	Violet	Brown	Not Applicable
x					x			x

FRUITING PERIOD:

DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE: Moist forests
NATIVE RANGE: southeastern United States

HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: Oakleaf hydrangea is the showiest of the North American hydrangeas. This large shrub has sizeable panicles of white flowers which fade to pink and then brown after pollination. The spent flowers can be used in flower arrangements. Fall colors range from orange, yellow, red to burgundy and surpasses that of the oaks. For showy fall colors make sure your plant receives sun for the better part of the day with shade in the latter part of the afternoon. If you wish, cut the plant back in winter to control its size.

Bloom Table Text:

NCBG Location:

Cultural Notes:

SOIL MOISTURE: Moist/Wet, Well-drained
LIGHT EXPOSURE: Sun, Part Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 5
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 9
GERMINATION CODE: 1, 4
WILDLIFE VALUE: Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly
DEER RESISTANCE:

GRIM ACCESSIONS

acc_id	acc_num	acc_dt	coll_id	Action
2888	1987-0417			View
6569	1996-0199			View
6862	1998-0068			View
7358	2000-0101	2000-03-22		View
7864	2002-0004	2002-02-04		View
8308	2005-0025	2005-03-17		View
8390	2005-0166	2005-05-31		View
8657	2006-0262	2006-09-21		View
8669	2006-0274	2006-09-21		View
9508	2021-0145	2022-08-19		View

GRIM COLLECTIONS

Coll_id	Project	Collection date	Collector	Action
1519	HORT	2005-03-08	Bryan	View
1520	HORT	2005-03-08	Bryan	View

GRIM PLANTINGS

plt_num	acc_id	loc_num	pers_num	inst_dt	Action
4796	2888	6	NCBG staff	1992-01-01	View
4797	2888	81	NCBG staff	1967-12-01	View
9276	6569	142	NCBG staff	1996-09-10	View
9724	6862	160	NCBG staff	1997-10-08	View
10339	7358	171	NCBG staff	1967-12-01	View
11089	7864	166	NCBG staff	2001-11-01	View
11090	7864	142	NCBG staff	2003-01-01	View
11588	8308	205	NCBG staff	2005-01-01	View
11649	8390	112	NCBG staff	2005-03-15	View
12199	8669	168	Stern	2007-12-15	View
12204	8657	179	Stern	2007-12-15	View
12871	8308	239	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
13192	9508	49	Wait	2021-11-23	View

USDA PLANTS DATABASE

USDA Symbol: HYQU3
USDA Common Name: Oakleaf Hydrangea
Native Status: L48 (N)
Distribution: USA (AL, DC, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Shrub

WEAKLEY FLORA

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hydrangea quercifolia
COMMON NAME: Oakleaf Hydrangea
SYNONYMY: [= C, F, FNA, G, K, S, WH3]
PHENOLOGY: May-Jul.
HABITAT: Native in hammocks, moist forests, also in disturbed areas, thickets, or forests adjacent to urban or suburban areas.
COMMENTS: C. and sw. TN, south through w. GA, AL, and MS to Panhandle FL and e. LA; scattered elsewhere as a remnant or escape from cultivation. Boufford & Wood (1977) describe a purportedly native occurrence in nw. SC, but it seems more likely to be an escape from cultivation (R. Clark, pers. comm.). This southeastern native is a spectacular garden plant, frequently planted, rarely escaping or persisting.
RANGE MAP: Hydrangea quercifolia.png

Key to Map Symbols

ABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora)
Hydrangeaceae Dumortier 1829 (Hydrangea Family)
SUMMARY: A family of about 17 genera and 190-220 species, trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs, primarily north temperate. As here interpreted, the family Hydrangeaceae includes two well-marked groups, the Hydrangeae (including Decumaria and Hydrangea) and the Philadelpheae (including Deutzia and Philadelphus). This group has been shown by molecular research to be unrelated to the Saxifragaceae, and to have its closest affinities to the Loasaceae, Cornaceae, and Nyssaceae (Xiang et al. 2002; Soltis, Xiang, & Hufford 1995; Morgan & Soltis 1993).
REFERENCE: Freeman in FNA (in prep.); Spongberg (1972); Soltis, Xiang, & Hufford (1995); Morgan & Soltis (1994); Xiang et al. (2002); Hufford in Kubitzki (2004).

ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora)
Hydrangea L. (Hydrangea)
SUMMARY: A genus of about 45 species, shrubs and lianas, of e. North America and e. Asia. Molecular analyses have long suggested that Hydrangea as usually interpreted is polyphyletic (Soltis, Xiang, & Hufford 1995; Samain, Wanke, & Goetghebeur 2010) and should be circumscribed more broadly to include other genera in tribe Hydrangeeae that are phylogenetically embedded (including, in our area, Decumaria); this approach has been further developed and formalized by De Smet et al. (2015), an approach followed here (generic and sectional circumscriptions follow De Smet et al. 2015). See Dirr (2004) and van Gelderen & van Gelderen (2004) for information on cultivated hydrangeas.
REFERENCE: Freeman in FNA (in prep.); McGregor in FNA (in prep.); Pilatowski (1982)=Z; McClintock (1957)=Y; Hufford in Kubitzki (2004).

HERBARIUM RESOURCES

SERNEC: Find Hydrangea quercifolia in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)
UNC SERNEC: Find Hydrangea quercifolia in University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)

WEB RESOURCES

USDA: Find Hydrangea quercifolia in USDA Plants
NPIN: Find Hydrangea quercifolia in NPIN Database
FNA: Find Hydrangea quercifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hydrangea quercifolia

IMAGE USE RECORDS

ID IMAGE: 8655 - Primary Image FloraQuest Plant Detail Page (Landscape Preferred)
ID IMAGE1: 8655 - Primary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE2: 0 - Secondary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE3: 7746 - Primary Image Plant Sale Sign (Landscape Only)
ID IMAGE4: 0 - Primary Image New Plant Sale Label (Portrait Only)