Oakleaf Hydrangea care — light, water, toxicity and hardiness
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) wants partial shade and a drink about every 5 days once established. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. It is toxic to pets — worth keeping out of reach.
| scientific name | Hydrangea quercifolia |
|---|---|
| family | Hydrangeaceae |
| category | shrub |
| plant type | perennial |
| light | partial shade |
| water cadence days | 5 |
| mature height cm | 200 |
| min zone | 5 |
| max zone | 9 |
| frost tolerant | true |
| toxic to pets | true |
| toxic to humans | true |
| edible | false |
How often should I water Oakleaf Hydrangea?
Native; burgundy fall foliage; blooms on old wood.
Who eats it
Palatable to people: no.
What it needs
Its shade tolerance is high. Its moisture use is medium. Its drought tolerance is medium. It wants at least about 32 inches of rain a year. Above roughly 60 inches of annual rain it struggles. It tolerates soil down to pH 4.6. It tolerates soil up to pH 7.5. Its fertility requirement is medium. Adapted to coarse, sandy soils: yes. Adapted to medium, loamy soils: yes. Adapted to fine, clay soils: yes. It needs at least 165 frost-free days. Its tolerance of chalky soil is medium. Its fire tolerance is medium. Fire resistant: no. It has been recorded down to -3°F. It suppresses neighbours chemically: no.
How it grows
It grows as a multiple stem form. Its growth rate is rapid. Its lifespan is moderate. It puts on most of its growth in spring and summer. It spreads by seed at a slow rate. It resprouts after damage: yes. Coppices: no. Its tolerance of hedging is medium. At maturity it reaches about 6.0 feet. By twenty years it is about 6 feet. Its roots go down at least 14 inches. Its shape is semi-erect. It holds its leaves through winter: no.
What it looks like
It blooms in late spring. The flowers are white. Conspicuous in flower: yes. The foliage is green. The foliage texture is coarse. In summer the canopy is moderate in porosity. In winter it is porous in porosity. Fall colour: yes. The fruit or seed is brown. Fruit begins in summer. Fruit finishes by fall. It fruits medium. The fruit persists on the plant: yes. The fruit is conspicuous: no.
Growing more of it
Propagated by seed: yes. Propagated by cuttings: yes. Propagated by container: yes. Propagated by bare root: yes. Propagated by bulb: no. Propagated by corm: no. Propagated by tubers: no. Cold stratification required: no. Seedling vigour is medium. Commercial availability: no known source.
Source: Drafted from US Cooperative Extension horticulture guidance; pending HUMAN-05 review (issue 280) · ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List · 2026-09-02