Ep 173. Oakleaf Hydrangea for All Seasons

In this episode, we chat about replacing invasive plants like Burning Bush with Native Plants, highlighting the beauty and versatility of Oak Leaf Hydrangeas for All Seasons. We review beautiful garden companions for Oak Leaf Hydrangea, varieties you'll love, and other native plants that are perfect replacements for Burning Bush.

We wrap up with the hilarious story of gardeners that pilfered Oakleaf Hydrangea from the woods, NOT suggested (smile).   

Thank you for tuning in. 

 Related Stories & Helpful Links: 

Oakleaf Hydrangea for All Seasons - Blog Post 

Episode 142. Berries for Winter Beauty and Wildlife

When to Prune Hydrangea, Deer – Blog Post 

Ep 172. When to Prune Hydrangea, Deer!

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Mary Stone, Columnist & Garden Designer

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More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from mother nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone.com
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Transcript

Ep 173 Oakleaf Hydrangea for All Seasons

Sun, Aug 11, 2024 10:13AM • 9:37

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

hydrangea, garden, oak leaf, flowers, hydrangeas, prune, winter, lovely, fall, plant, blooms, adore, deer, burning bush, shrub, oak, grows, beautiful, gardens, dilemmas, mary stone, garden, nature, inspiration

SPEAKERS

Mary Stone

Mary Stone  00:00

Mary, Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. I'm Mary Stone, and welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights and Discoveries. It's not only about gardens. It's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learn from mother nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other, we have lots to talk about.

Mary Stone  00:26

Hello there. It's Mary Stone on the screen porch, and I think we are going to beat the cicadas before they start singing. It's a cool morning after last night's deluge of thunderstorm, so perhaps they are still sleeping. Thanks to those that reached back after last week's chat, When to Prune Hydrangea Deer, the heavy rains caused more of my hydrangea branches that are laden with fading blooms to flop. So I'll be out there again, lightening the load. Interestingly, the Oak Leaf Hydrangeas are still standing tall, though they too have plenty of blooms. I adore the plant many use to replace the invasive burning bush, amongst other options of what you can plant, which is today's topic. It starts like this. 

Mary Stone  01:11

Hello, fellow listeners and readers. Bonnie of Stillwater, New Jersey has an enormous burning bush outside her kitchen window, planted by her parents, who once lived in the home, and so she has an attachment to it and continues to prune it to keep it from blocking the windows views, which may help the cause burning bush. Euonymus alatus, also known as winged Euonymus, was a popular shrub because of its brilliant red fall color. introduced in the 1860s from Asia, it began inundating woodlands by the mid 1980s landing. It on invasive lists of over 20 states, and it's banned in other states, like Pennsylvania, which is right here, of course, Massachusetts and Minnesota, the discrete green flowers from May to early June that turn into red orange berries, and then They darkened purple in the fall and the birds adore them. Hence, that's how the plant became invasive. It's much like barberry. We no longer plant for that reason. So, rejuvenate pruning Bonnie's burning bush by cutting off the flowers each June may help the seed spread, but the best thing to do is remove the plant and choose a more beautiful option, such as oak leaf hydrangea, a shrub for all seasons. 

Mary Stone  02:25

In the fall, the Husky oak shaped leaves turn a mix of Maroon and dark purple with bright red and bronze. Some, like Hydrangea quercifolia Allison, turns that fluorescent reddish burgundy, much like burning bush. Even after the leaves fall, oak leaf hydrangeas are lovely with exfoliating bark and dried flowers to adore in the winter landscape. In the spring, you'll enjoy the unfurling dark green leaves rising above the beautiful ginger colored bark. Oak leaf hydrangeas are not fussy handling a wide range of soil, though they prefer slightly acidic still, they can tolerate alkaline soil, and the pH does not affect the Bloom's color. And oak leaf hydrangea can handle road salt and salt spray. But it is true, along with other hydrangea species, Rutgers University considers Oak Leaf C in deer resistance, which means it can occasionally be severely damaged, and mine do get nibbled from time to time. However, they seem less tasty than their cousins with those softer leaves we spoke about last week. They bloom white for six to eight weeks, beginning in June, then shift to pink, to purplish pink, depending on the species, before drying to a lovely brown they are gorgeous in the winter garden when the snow dons the flowers with fluffy white hats. They are hardy in zones five to nine, although they can tolerate full sun here, unlike other hydrangeas. And in warmer zones, they prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. One thing for sure, though, they do not like wet feet, and so make sure that your soil is well drained, but they will tolerate dryness. So unlike others that prefer moist soil, Oak leaf’s can take some dry times, and they are often used in native plantings here in New Jersey, although technically they are native to southeastern United States.  

Mary Stone  04:16

But again, we use them very often in native plantings because they are so kind to wildlife and what is native anyway. In fact, the only officially native hydrangea to these parts is smooth hydrangea, which is the Hydrangea arborescence we spoke about last week, also known as wild hydrangea. But unlike smooth hydrangea, which blooms on new wood, oak leaves bloom on old wood, so only prune them right after they bloom, before the new flower buds are set to ensure flowers for next year as we spoke about last week.

Mary Stone  04:48

There are some beautiful garden companions for Oak Leaf hydrangea, because the oak shaped leaves offer a pleasing, coarse texture so fine textured evergreen shrubs like Holly and Inkberry make lovely neighbors and companions. Perennials such as pulmonaria, which is lung wort and Coral Bells (Heuchera) are beautiful in the foreground. And of course, there's Hosta, though deer love Hosta, as you probably know, so you'll be spraying those if you have deer in your backyard, as I do. And of course, Oak Leaf hydrangeas, rustic appearance makes them ideal for woodland gardens or as a specimen or in formal hedge in more tailored gardens. 

Mary Stone  05:28

There are so many varieties to choose from, and I list those in the Garden Dilemmas post, and I will put a link in the show notes, but I think we have a bit of time I'm going to list some of them here. The straight species, Hydrangea quercifolia  grows relatively quickly to a stately 12 to 14 feet tall and wide. They are irregularly shaped and quickly spread by suckering, meaning pushing out vertical roots at their base, but you can prune the runners to prevent spreading, or let them root and share volunteers with friends. Alice is the readily available variety most like the straight species, but if you prefer a more tidy, less loose appearance, then Snowflake is perfect for you, which grows about five to eight feet tall and has those double flowers, which means extra petals for a smaller garden space. 

Mary Stone  06:16

I adore Ruby Slipper. It's one of my favorites. It grows about three to four feet, and as the name describes, the white flowers shift to a reddish rose. And then there's Munchkin Oak Leaf Hydrangea, another one of my favorites, whose flowers change to a lighter pink. And there's even a small, tiny one called Pee Wee, which is only two to four feet tall and wide. So, on the column post is my Munchkin Oak Leaf Hydrangea. It is gorgeous in the fall, and now here in early August, it has pink flowers with little freckles, so adorable. 

Mary Stone  06:51

I came upon a hilarious story about two gallivanting gardeners harvesting native oak leaf’s off the road in precarious spots. Delirious with excitement over the value of their bounty. It was until the next day that they realized the extent of their injuries from rolling down slippery slopes, including cracked ribs and punctured lungs, a lesson to all of us, not to steal from Mother Nature. And that makes me giggle, because there are beautiful Norway spruces along the Appalachian Trail at Blue Mountain Lake, and I've often wanted to pilfer one as a Christmas tree, but I never did that because I think if I'm arrested as a garden designer, that may be a problem. As much as we admire plants along the road or in the woods, leave them be, and buy them at your local nursery instead. Garden Dilemmas? Ask Mary Stone.com. 

Mary Stone  07:40

There are other options to replace Burning Bush with things like Nine Bark, which is a beautiful native plant. I particularly love the variety Ginger Wine, which emerges orange and spring, then ages burgundy and brightens to red come fall. And then there's Aronia Arbutifolia, which is not deer resistant, but Choke Berry, also known as Red Choke Berry, has lovely red fall color, and the vase shape is so pleasing in the garden, it grows to about six to 12 feet tall and three to six feet wide. I'll put some more details to these lovelies in the column post. And of course, there's Winter Berry we spoke about in Episode 142. Berries for Winter Beauty and Wildlife. You may recall in that episode that we wrap up with the legend of Winter Berry, when a hungry bear chooses to share the tiny morsel, one lone Winter Berry. And because he did, when the cold and freezing night at last came to an end, there were berries blooming everywhere. The charming story of sharing despite shortages resulting in abundance, is a lesson for all. Yes, indeed. Anyway, I want to thank you for visiting with me. I hope you didn't mind my little bit of a hoarse voice. I think I have a bit of an allergy thing going on, but I've enjoyed our time together, and I hope you share the podcast with a friend or two so more can find us and learn and grow in the garden of life. It means so much. See you next time.

Mary Stone  09:07

 You can follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook or online at Garden Dilemmas.com and on Instagram at hashtag Mary Elaine Stone. Garden Dilemmas Delights and Discoveries is produced by Alex Bartling. Thanks for coming by. I look forward to chatting again from my screen porch, and always remember to embrace the unexpected in this garden of life. Have a great day