Native to shady woodland habitats across the Southeastern United States, oakleaf hydrangeas are now a staple ornamental plant across USDA zones 5-9 in the temperate zone. Boasting large panicles bearing cone-shaped clusters of off-white blossoms, these hydrangeas are unlike most of their relatives, which typically flower in a dome-like shape. Numerous cultivars are available, so beyond shopping for the the distinctive leaf shape among the hydrangeas, look for the binomial name for the shrub: Hydrangea quercifolia. Both parts of this name say quite a lot about the plant. Hydrangea comes from the Greek “hydor," meaning water, and "angos,” meaning cup: this tells you that the plant is a heavy consumer of water, and won’t tolerate a dry spot without significant irrigation. Quercifolia comes from the Latin “quercus,” meaning oak, and “folium,” meaning leaf: this aspect of the name has been translated to the English common name of “oakleaf,” and speaks to the distinctive lobed shape of the leaves.
