Oakleaf Hydrangea

In summer, oakleaf hydrangea flowers in clusters, and the white flowers fade to a pinkish-brown in fall. The plant's distinguishing characteristic is its oak leaf-shaped foliage. The leathery leaves are large and turn purple, orangey-bronze or red in the fall. These shrubs routinely achieve a height of 4'-6' and a spread of 4'-6', but can grow to be larger than that. They are multi-stemmed shrubs, and the branches can shoot out from the center in any direction. Exfoliating bark offers winter interest, as well as spring interest (before the plant fully leafs out).