Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangea

The selection of this specimen as the MGC emblem flower was based on a hedge of
H.quercifolia that I saw at the Arnold Arboretum on an October morning a few years ago.
The oak-shaped leaves were 3 to 7 lobed, 3 to 8 inch long and wide, shiny mahogany and burgundy colored. They hold late into the fall and early winter. The old cinnamon exfoliating bark stems hold the place of this spectacular shrub in the garden until it flowers again in the summer. The flowers open in June and last three to four weeks. The 4-12 inch long upright pyramidal white flowers are composed of 1- to 1 1⁄2 in. diameter, showy sepals, interspersed with fertile flowers. The flowers turn pink in the late summer and tan in the autumn. It’s a garden workhorse and a good selection for any garden club! Michael Dirr says that “this is one of the most handsome plants that landscape designers have at their disposal. The magnificent white flowers provide full measure for the landscape dollar. It’s one of the best plants for use at the edge of woodlands… and one that needs to be utilized more in American gardens.” Zones 5 to 9.

The watercolor painting by artist John Sprague is used on all MGC marketing materials. He used the variety ‘Snowflake’ as his model.

'Snowflake' - One of the most spectacular flowered selections, this plant sports flower panicles with sterile florets that are full and "double" in appearance. The flowers are so heavy and abundant that they can weigh down the branches. This plant will grow to 8' tall.