Oakleaf hydrangea
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Oakleaf hydrangea
- From: S*@aol.com
- Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 01:29:39 EDT
Having gardened in Massachusetts for thirteen years, I decided to try
Hydrangea quercifolia in my Sunset zone 24 (two blocks from the ocean) garden
in San Diego.
Surprisingly, it has done ok in the part shade location. The afternoon sun
is a bit strong. Do think morning sun would be preferable. By late summer,
some of the leaves can turn brown, but as it becomes more established this is
less of a problem.
The leaves do turn a lovely dark red in the fall even though we rarely dip
below 40 degrees. It is slow growing, making only a little progress each
year. Currently it is about three feet tall. I'm hoping my patience will be
rewarded.
Siting such a plant is most important, I've learned when trying to stretch
the boundaries of what will grow in a Mediterranean climate. Though my
garden is predominately Mediterranean in character, I did receive a tree
peony as a house-warming gift! It has done splendidly these past eight years
and currently is about three feet tall and very full. At one time this
spring there were eight flowers on the plant, the largest of which was about
nine inches across when fully open. (Nothing but bone and blood and lots of
compost to mulch. No ice cubes either). I believe the tree peony has done
so well only because it receives no sun after November 1 and until about
March 1 and its roots are shaded by an 18 inch wall. Since the plants are so
expensive, I would not recommend much experimentation in the warmer Sunset
zones, but oh the joys of that unexpected success!
And now into the garden!
Sue Martin
