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oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangeaceae Hydrangea quercifolia W. Bartram Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: HYQU3
Leaf: Opposite, simple, serrated, 3- to 7-lobed (oak-like), 4 to 8 inches long, green and smooth above, lighter and downy below.
Flower: White (later turning pink), in long (4 to 12 inches) clusters, outer flowers larger and sterile, inner flowers fertile and creamy colored, appearing in mid-summer.
Fruit: Dry capsule, not showy, persistent.
Twig: Stout, very pubescent, rusty-brown, large buds with pubescent scales.
Bark: Reddish brown, exfoliates heavily.
Form: Small shrub 4 to 8 feet in height, numerous suckering stems, round crown.
 Looks like: wild hydrangea - bigleaf hydrangea - panicle hydrangea

oakleaf hydrangea leaf image
oakleaf hydrangea flower image
oakleaf hydrangea fruit image
oakleaf hydrangea twig image
oakleaf hydrangea bark image
oakleaf hydrangea form image
oakleaf hydrangea map image

Additional Range Information: Hydrangea quercifolia is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information