Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' (Pee Wee Hydrangea) 3 gal
If you love hydrangeas but don’t love watering, meet the only truly drought-tolerant species, the Oakleaf Hydrangea! In addition to its tolerance for our PNW summer dry spells, this species also is well suited to a PNW naturalistic aesthetic, as both its more open form and its oak-leaf-like foliage blend beautifully with native shrubs and perennials, including offering a nice display of fall color.
The ‘Pee Wee’ cultivar is especially terrific for its more diminutive size, growing about 3-4 ft. high and wide over time, though it can also be lightly pruned to achieve the size and shape you desire.
The flowers are pyramidal shaped, with each little snowflake-like bloom capturing attention as the flower clusters slowly open. The flowers persist for months (even through the cold months for winter interest!), starting off creamy-white, becoming pinkish, and ultimately a lovely brown as they dry out in fall.
This plant performs best and is most drought resistant when protected from the harshest heat: plant it in morning light, dappled or partial shade, or near the front or midpoint of a border or challenging corner where it will be protected by larger plants behind it blocking the midday and late afternoon summer sun.
Once established, this is a no-fuss, easy-care plant. Ensure it has sufficient moisture during its first few summers, watering deeply and infrequently to encourage a hardy root system that will withstand future droughts. Depending on your soils and how much shade it’s in, you may need to give it a drink during especially hot spells, and you may want to shape it with some delicate pruning now and then.
Mix this with midsized native or water-wise shrubs or ornamental grasses that also are happy in partial shade; it’s especially lovely with water-wise deciduous and evergreen barberries, the ornamental grass Chasmanthium, Mahonia repens, and hellebores.
If you love hydrangeas but don’t love watering, meet the only truly drought-tolerant species, the Oakleaf Hydrangea! In addition to its tolerance for our PNW summer dry spells, this species also is well suited to a PNW naturalistic aesthetic, as both its more open form and its oak-leaf-like foliage blend beautifully with native shrubs and perennials, including offering a nice display of fall color.
The ‘Pee Wee’ cultivar is especially terrific for its more diminutive size, growing about 3-4 ft. high and wide over time, though it can also be lightly pruned to achieve the size and shape you desire.
The flowers are pyramidal shaped, with each little snowflake-like bloom capturing attention as the flower clusters slowly open. The flowers persist for months (even through the cold months for winter interest!), starting off creamy-white, becoming pinkish, and ultimately a lovely brown as they dry out in fall.
This plant performs best and is most drought resistant when protected from the harshest heat: plant it in morning light, dappled or partial shade, or near the front or midpoint of a border or challenging corner where it will be protected by larger plants behind it blocking the midday and late afternoon summer sun.
Once established, this is a no-fuss, easy-care plant. Ensure it has sufficient moisture during its first few summers, watering deeply and infrequently to encourage a hardy root system that will withstand future droughts. Depending on your soils and how much shade it’s in, you may need to give it a drink during especially hot spells, and you may want to shape it with some delicate pruning now and then.
Mix this with midsized native or water-wise shrubs or ornamental grasses that also are happy in partial shade; it’s especially lovely with water-wise deciduous and evergreen barberries, the ornamental grass Chasmanthium, Mahonia repens, and hellebores.
If you love hydrangeas but don’t love watering, meet the only truly drought-tolerant species, the Oakleaf Hydrangea! In addition to its tolerance for our PNW summer dry spells, this species also is well suited to a PNW naturalistic aesthetic, as both its more open form and its oak-leaf-like foliage blend beautifully with native shrubs and perennials, including offering a nice display of fall color.
The ‘Pee Wee’ cultivar is especially terrific for its more diminutive size, growing about 3-4 ft. high and wide over time, though it can also be lightly pruned to achieve the size and shape you desire.
The flowers are pyramidal shaped, with each little snowflake-like bloom capturing attention as the flower clusters slowly open. The flowers persist for months (even through the cold months for winter interest!), starting off creamy-white, becoming pinkish, and ultimately a lovely brown as they dry out in fall.
This plant performs best and is most drought resistant when protected from the harshest heat: plant it in morning light, dappled or partial shade, or near the front or midpoint of a border or challenging corner where it will be protected by larger plants behind it blocking the midday and late afternoon summer sun.
Once established, this is a no-fuss, easy-care plant. Ensure it has sufficient moisture during its first few summers, watering deeply and infrequently to encourage a hardy root system that will withstand future droughts. Depending on your soils and how much shade it’s in, you may need to give it a drink during especially hot spells, and you may want to shape it with some delicate pruning now and then.
Mix this with midsized native or water-wise shrubs or ornamental grasses that also are happy in partial shade; it’s especially lovely with water-wise deciduous and evergreen barberries, the ornamental grass Chasmanthium, Mahonia repens, and hellebores.