PlantFiles: Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake'

This is a stunner - not usually a fan of double flowers, but these are gorgeous and unique.

Several years of no flowers caused me finally to fertilize and the reward -- heavy, huge flowers - sigh!

Flowers age beautifully and make great dried bouquets.

Great fall color, too.

According to the authors of "Encyclopedia of Hydrangeas" C.J. and D.M. Van Gelderen (2004 - Timber Press).

Actual cultivar name 'Brido', trademarked name is SNOWFLAKE. Bred by Edgar Aldridge and Loren Aldridge, U.S., in 1960. Originated at Snow Flake Nurseries in Alabama.

Spectacular plant that needs a sheltered place and can suffer in very cold winters. The flowerheads are very interesting; the panicle contains white fertile flowers and very double sterile flowers in abundance. Leaves are like those of this species, the plant sometimes has an untidy shape. To 6.5' tall.

This has been one of the easiest and most productive plants I have ever used. I purchased 5 small one gallon plants 5 years ago from a local nursery. I placed them under a medium sized spreading pine in rather poor soil and they have thrived. The first few years they were planted they got a little crispy in the late summer but have seemed to even out and are now used to their spot. The brilliant fall color really depends on the type of fall we have but tends to be present every other year. They get the bright morning sun and some of the dappled afternoon sun as well. They went from being plants that were perhaps two feet tall at the most to plants that will be well over 8ft this summer when in bloom. They are full and beautiful and not at all leggy and have only required trimming of a few dead branches in the Spring and the flower heads after they are spent about mid summer. The blooming is profuse and tends to have a light honey scent. The flowers go from a bright white to a beautiful rosey pink and then they dry on the bush. They are so lush that they are even great to look at after they are finished blooming (late May or early June). The new growth follows the blooming period and continues until fall. I really can't say enough good about this plant but would recommend putting it in the partial shade in the lower mid-west.