Hydrangea Quercifolia Snow Queen Oak-leaved Hydrangea

Hydrangea Quercifolia Snow Queen is a beautifully foliaged deciduous hydrangea that holds the RHS AGM. It has coned shaped snow-white flowers throughout the summer and stunning autumnal colours. This flowering shrub is a good choice for dappled borders, low maintenance woodland style gardens, or as a focal point in a modern setting.

Hydrangea Quercifolia are oak-leafed hydrangeas native to the woodlands of southeast America. The name Quercifolia comes from the Latin quercus for oak and folium for leaf, but although the foliage is oak-leafed shaped it’s not related to oak trees.

There are many varieties of Oak Leaf Hydrangea, but Snow Queen is a particularly beautiful and hardy cultivar with the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its mound-forming habit and deeply lobed mid-green leaves that turn spectacular shades of bronze and purple in autumn. The flower heads are dense, upright cones of flower panicles that smother the branches from summer to autumn. As summer progresses the flowerheads turn pale pink.

This is an unusual hydrangea synonymous with Hydrangea Quercifolia Flemygea. It has excellent foliage and long-lasting flowerheads. It’s more modern in appearance than some traditional hydrangeas and grows equally well in an urban or countryside environment.

Height And Spread of Hydrangea Quercifolia Snow Queen
Oak-leaved Hydrangea Snow Queen reaches a maximum height and spread of 2.5 metres.

How Hardy is Hydrangea Quercifolia Snow Queen
With well-drained roots and plenty of water in the hot months, hydrangeas are hardy enough to cope with freezing UK winters.

How To Use Hydrangea Quercifolia Snow Queen
Oak-leaved Hydrangea Snow Queen has interesting modern leaves and conical shaped flowerheads setting it apart from traditional hydrangeas. It suits urban gardens as a stunning centrepiece and it’s equally at home in a mixed country cottage flowerbed.

If you’re a lover of hydrangeas this unusual shrub mixes well with other hydrangea species and gives a colourful autumnal show too.

You can grow it in a well-watered and fed container, but because hydrangeas don’t like drying out you should have a good watering regime to ensure it gets enough to drink.

How To Care For Hydrangea Quercifolia Snow Queen
Oak-leaved Hydrangea Snow Queen will grow in the majority of well-drained but moist soil and isn’t ph. affected. Choose a sunny to partially shady spot with shelter from prevailing winds to protect the flowerheads. At the centre of a sheltered border is ideal.

Pruning isn’t required but when it’s established you can remove crossed or dead branches in early spring or trim it back lightly to maintain its height and spread.

Mulch well in spring with organic matter and water well until it’s established. Hydrangea like plenty of water, so ensure it’s frequently drenched during the hot months to ensure a long-lasting flower display.