Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ (Oak Leaved Hydrangea 'Snow Queen')

A big, beautiful shrub for borders, landscapes, informal barriers or hedges, Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ (‘Flemygea’) can achieve 2.5m in both height and breadth. With the large, lobed leaves and dramatic cone shaped flowers, this plant has real presence within the garden.

It is hardy and deciduous forming a mound of mid green leaves. These are deeply lobed giving rise to the common name of ‘Oak leaved Hydrangea’. During the late spring and early summer large, 20cm long, flower heads develop consisting of elongated cone shapes with tightly massed white ray florets that take on shades of pink and red as they age, ending finally with soft browns. The prolonged season of interest continues during the autumn as the leaves take on bronze and purple colourations before falling. The exfoliating bark is a mid-brown adding another pleasure to the winter landscape.

Hydrangeas grow happily in sheltered positions in moist-but-well-drained humus rich loamy or clay soils in full sun to light shade. They are shallow rooted, and could be vulnerable to drying out so an annual application of compost or manure will both feed and protect them. The stems are quite robust meaning that the heavy flower heads still tend to remain upright even after rain. These are big shrubs so prune only as needed and this is best done after flowering. It is useful to note that cut blooms last well, up to 14 days, so this may be a good way of enjoying the flowers and pruning at the same time.