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Botanical name: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ellen Huff’
An excellent large garden or massing shrub featuring spikes of mixed sterile and fertile flowers which fade from pure white to pink, interesting foliage with spectacular fall color and papery bark; rather coarse in appearance, best used in groupings.
Other names: Oakleaf Hydrangea
| Hardiness zone | 5a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | white |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | upright spreading |
| Mature height | 8 feet |
| Spread | 10 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | North American native |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Ellen Huff Hydrangea features bold fragrant conical white flowers with pink overtones at the ends of the branches from late spring to mid summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The large lobed leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant. The peeling brick red bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Ellen Huff Hydrangea is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its strikingly bold and coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced landscape composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Ellen Huff Hydrangea is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use
Ellen Huff Hydrangea will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.
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