Skip to product information
1 of 6
Hydrangea quercifolia &
Hydrangea quercifolia &
Hydrangea quercifolia &
Hydrangea quercifolia &
Hydrangea quercifolia &

oakleaf hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' | oakleaf hydrangea

Regular price
$34.99
Regular price
Sale price
$34.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.

ships spring 2025

PLEASE KNOW: Plants shipped in early spring are likely to arrive dormant.

Oakleaf Hydrangea is an attractive deciduous shrub native to the American South. Bold, large, oak-shaped leaves give this hardy plant an almost tropical appearance. Leaves emerge light green in spring, darken to a deep green, then turn the most beautiful shade of deep red in fall. This shrub pleases through all the seasons: peeling cinnamon-colored bark nicely complements the dried flower panicles.

Flowers on old wood; prune just after flowering to maintain shape if desired.

'Snow Queen' is similar to the straight species, however it has stronger stems and a slightly more upright, rounded form. It is also more floriferous. Long panicles of mostly sterile white flowers appear in late spring and slowly fade to a beautiful pink as they age.

*Hardy to zone 5, but should be sited in a protected location or otherwise protected in the first few years as it becomes fully established. We sited ours behind a porch where it is safely protected from strong winter winds.

Distinctions: Winner of an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticulture Society; Great Plant Picks, Pennsylvania Horticulture Society Gold Medal

Zones: 5* to 9
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Type: Deciduous Shrub
Height: 4 to 6 ft.
Spread: 6 to 8 ft.
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Conditions: Rich, moist but well-drained soil
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Color: White changing to pink
Native Range: southeastern US

Special Characteristics
  • Flowering
  • Outstanding fall color
  • Winter interest
  • Beautiful bark
image credits

Image 1 (flowers) Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 2 (leaves) Plant Image Library from Boston, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 3 (pink blooms) Plant Image Library from Boston, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 4 (fall color) Ali McEnhill at The Old Dairy, Rhinebeck, NY 

Hydrangea quercifolia &
Hydrangea quercifolia &
Hydrangea quercifolia &
Hydrangea quercifolia &
Hydrangea quercifolia &

Ordering information

Preorders

You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for spring 2025 shipment. If you place multiple orders, we will combine plants into one box (or as many as needed) and any extra shipping charges will be refunded when we ship.

We will begin shipping plants as soon as plants begin to emerge from dormancy in spring. Woodies will likely begin shipping in April. Perennials will likely begin shipping in May. If ordering multiple varieties, we will hold until all plants are ready to ship together. If you would like to receive plants sooner please reach out.

We will check in with you a week before shipping to make sure you receive your plants at a time that is convenient for you.

Shipping

Live plants ship in spring and fall only. Plants may ship dormant, depending on variety and season. Shipping costs are most reasonable when bundling like size plants.

  • 4-inch: 1-6 plants ship for $15.00 / 7-13 plants ship for $18.00 / 14-30 plants ship for $40.00
  • 1-gal: 1-2 plants ship for $18.00 / 3-4 plants ship for $25.00 / 5-6 plants ship for $40.00
  • trees & shrubs: $27.00-$40.00 each, height dependent
  • seeds: $6.75 or free with orders over $15.00

We regret that we cannot ship internationally or to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA.

Read more about our shipping policies here.

Nursery pick up

Plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall. We prefer 24 hour notice to get your order together and will email you when ready for collection.

If you place a SPRING 2025 PREORDER, we will contact you in spring when your plants are ready for collection. Woodies will likely become available for collection in April. Perennials will likely become available in May. If ordering multiple varieties, we will hold until all plants are ready to be collected together.

Plant Sizes

We most commonly use the following pot sizes for perennials:

  • 4-inch pot: 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
  • 2-quart pot: 6" H x 5.25" W x 5.25" D
  • 1-gallon pot: 6.87" H x 8" Dia (this is a true one gallon pot, not the smaller 'trade' one gallon pot used by many nurseries)

Check out our illustrated pot size guide here.

Representative trees & shrubs are photographed in their pots and posted on each plant page.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at The Old Dairy. We grow all of our plants outdoors without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, carbon fuels, or peat.

Many of our perennials are grown in the ground and dug upon order (this is especially true for larger sizes). This practice allows us to grow stronger, healthier plants using native soil, and ultimately reduces our impact on the environment.

Our open-pollinated seeds are collected from plants in our mother beds, which have never been treated with chemicals or sprays of any kind.

Read all about our sustainable practices here.

garden location coming soongarden location coming soon
garden location coming soongarden location coming soon

view this plant in our garden

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' | oakleaf hydrangea | House: Shade Garden 2023

seedling image

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' | oakleaf hydrangea

We are slowly creating a seedling image library to help make weeding easier.
garden location coming soongarden location coming soon
garden location coming soongarden location coming soon