Before I moved to this neck of the woods my opinion of hydrangeas veered between ‘ambivalent’ and ‘unimpressed’. Slowly, however, I have been won over, especially by some of the less grown varieties. One of these is the oak-leaved hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia. Above is a toothed leaf, yet to succumb to autumn metamorphosis, set-off beautifully by its far more advanced bronze colleague below. Anyone who is hydrangea-phobic should test their resolve by taking a closer look at this North American native. Impressive deeply lobbed leaves turn shades of red and purple and bronze in the autumn, upside down ice cream cones of pure white flowers which fade to pink appear in summer. It is far more tolerant of both sun and dry soils than its cousin the more common mophead, Hydrangea macrophylla. Both beautiful and adaptable. Irresistible.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Gorgeous autumn colour….looks brilliant in my white garden…
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I bet! Such a great shrub.
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I hadn’t known this one. Very pretty.
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🙂
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Hydrangeas are some of my favourite plants. I even love how dramatically they droop when they’re thirsty (it’s good they can give us a hint). You’ve fallen for a particularly pretty one.
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I have, it is true, but there are some corkers out there.
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I like hydrangeas, which were one of my mum’s favourites. I’m hoping that the one on the plot will do better, and hopefully even flower, once I move it in the spring. xx
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I hope so too! Look forward to seeing it in full bloom next year. 🙂
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The Oakleaf Hydrangeas grow wild in the woods where I am from – one of my all time favorites, especially in dry shade! I am glad to hear you like it as well.
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Lucky you, would love to see some in the wild.
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Well, they are huge and beautiful. My grandparents had them in their garden, 10 feet by 8 and they called them Grancy Greybeards although usually that is the common name for Chionanthus. Go figure.
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I love that name! I must try and remember it and use it. Wonderful. 🙂
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There seems to be a sort of snobbery around Hydrangeas. Somehow they are regarded as somewhat subpar, or even tacky. Too easy, perhaps. I’ve always enjoyed the colour changes that can occur, even in a single plant in a single season. White to pink to red. Green to white. Blue to pink to burgundy. Fascinating.
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Very true, they are such lovely colours at the moment.
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My favourite Hydrangea, looking well all year long!
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Do you have them growing wild where you are?
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No, wild it grows only in some regions in the USA (sorry for the late answer, I don’t login in my ‘old’ blog every day)
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I like them and their colour changes too, a wonderful choice.
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Thank you 🙂
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