By Grace Broyles
A Hydrangea that we can grow here in West Texas? And is able to withstand the cold and the heat?
Yes, there is a Hydrangea that will thrive in this harsh part of Texas. It’s called Oakleaf Hydrangea.
This Hydrangea is different from the ones we often see pictured or for sale in the nurseries or the box store garden areas. It is hardy enough for us here. We hardly ever come across them in public or in a friend’s flower beds, but they are a plant we should consider.
The Oakleaf Hydrangea is named for the shape of its leaves — deeply lobed like a Red Oak leaf. It is a member of the hydrangeaceae family of plants, those with “water vessel” seed capsules. It grows at least twice as tall as the blue or pink varieties of hydrangeas we see here in the shady parts of peoples’ properties, and, if conditions are optimal, it can grow up to 12 feet tall. But here in West Texas, it may get to 6 feet tall and about 3-4 feet wide. It is a multi-stemmed shrub that offers interesting color all year round.
Oakleaf Hydrangeas are native to the southeastern states from North Carolina south to Florida, and west to Louisiana (maybe East Texas?). They may be found growing in moist woodlands, especially along the banks of streams and rivers, sometimes in ravines and on bluffs.
Since the Oakleaf Hydrangea cannot withstand our very hot sunshine, we need to plant it in a shady location, where it only gets some dappled sun, or morning sunshine. And since we can get some severely cold winter winds, we need to plant it where it is sheltered from the winds that blow into our area. To give this plant even better protection, we should put down a thick layer of mulch or other organic matter in early summer before new growth begins. In late fall, a thick layer of mulch should be added in readiness for a cold winter.
Oakleaf Hydrangeas need to be kept moist, but other than that, they don’t need much care. If the plant gets too gangly, the stems may be cut back some after flowering, but new growth comes from the old wood stems, so care must be given as to how much of the stems should be removed. Dead stems may be removed any time.
These Hydrangeas develop lovely-smelling greenish-white blooms as early as May. The cone-shaped clusters of flowers soon become white and then a purplish-pink over the summer. The blooms often stay on the plant into the winter, turning a warm earthy color. Oakleaf blooms may be used for cut flowers and placed in water for display in your home or in a shop. They may also be dried and used in dried flower arrangements or in crafts.
The plant’s dark green leaves also stay on the plant into the winter, turning from rich green to shades of red and orange and brown. The oldest stems of these Hydrangeas peel bark over time, revealing a rich brown color on the under layers of bark.
Oakleaf Hydrangeas are available for purchase in nurseries that carry a variety of perennials other than the most popular of the season. They do best when planted before the hot and dry summers we have here. They can be used as a hedge or as a specimen plant in a shade bed, or along the East side of a home or other building.
Oakleaf Hydrangeas may be propagated by cuttings or by seed. The seeds are very small, however, and are hard to get to germinate. Seeds may germinate after a couple weeks up to several months after being placed on a shallow layer of moist soil in a pot in a well-lit area. Cuttings from the soft wood (the new growth) can be done more easily. Using a sharp pair of scissors or hand pruners, a 6-inch length of soft wood may be cut off at an angle just above a node (or bump in the stem). All but the top 2 leaves should be removed. The cut end should be dipped in growth hormone then placed in a pencil-sized hole made in moist potting soil in a small pot. The potting soil should be tamped firmly around the stem, and then gently watered in with a mist sprayer. Roots should begin to form after several weeks.
The new plant, whether started from seed or soft wood, should be firmly rooted before being transplanted into a larger pot, or into a garden space in late summer. Once well-established, the new Oakleaf Hydrangea can grow rapidly, up to 10 inches in a season. First blooms may not occur until the second or third year.
Several cultivars of Oakleaf Hydrangeas are available, including Ruby Falls, which produces a big red bloom cluster. Others are Gatsby Gal, a short variety; Gatsby Pink, that starts off with white flowers that turn pink; and Gatsby Moon, with white, tightly-packed flowers that turn greenish in time and green leaves that turn wine-red in the fall. These varieties may need a little more specialized care to thrive in our area.
