Commonly referred to as oakleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia is a lovely upright, broad-rounded shrub that can grow between 4 to 6 feet tall, and sometimes even up to 8 feet! This charming plant thrives in a variety of habitats, including bluffs, moist woods, ravines, and stream banks stretching from Georgia to Florida and Louisiana. During the summer, expect to be greeted by beautiful pyramidal clusters of white flowers emerging from its exfoliating branches, accompanied by its large, dark green leaves that have a delightful oak-like shape with 3 to 7 lobes.

Introduced to the market by Michael Dirr as part of the Georgia Plant Introduction Program, the 'Alice' variety stands out as an upright, stoloniferous shrub that generally reaches heights and widths of 5 to 8 feet, occasionally growing as tall as 12 feet in optimal conditions. You’ll be especially impressed by its stunning large, arching flower panicles, measuring 10 to 14 inches long, paired with foliage that’s typically free from diseases and offers vibrant fall colors. In June, you can enjoy large pyramidal flower clusters featuring primarily sterile white blooms that grace the plant for about 6 to 8 weeks before gently fading to lovely shades of pink and brown as summer comes to an end. Its deeply-lobed, somewhat coarse, deep green oak-like leaves (up to 8 inches long) transform into striking hues of bronze, maroon, and purple in the fall. Additionally, as the plant matures, the stems shed their outer layer to unveil a rich brown inner bark that adds winter interest.

Plant these beauties in rich, organically balanced, medium moisture soils that drain well and enjoy a range of sunlight from full sun to part shade. They particularly flourish in moist conditions, and don’t forget a layer of summer mulch to help keep that soil nice and hydrated! Blooming occurs on old wood, so if you need to prune, try to do so immediately after flowering, as they generally require little pruning. If you see any winter damage on the stems, feel free to prune those off come early spring. Giving your plants a sheltered spot and some winter protection like mulch or burlap wrap is especially important in USDA Zone 5, particularly for those that aren’t fully established yet. Keep in mind that during harsh winters, when temperatures dip below -10 degrees F, plants can lose many flower buds or even die back to the ground, which might affect their blooms the following year.