Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Alabama’s State Wildflower

‘Harmony’

When there are so many beautiful hydrangeas blooming, it is hard not to spend some time extolling the virtues of different ones. So today my question what do ‘Snowflake’, ‘Snowqueen’, and ‘Harmony’ have in common? This is an easy one – they are all oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia), Alabama’s State Wildflower. This hydrangea is a great four season addition to the landscape, unlike so many of the mopheads. Also unlike the mophead hydrangea, it can take drier soil conditions, but it is not drought tolerant. As a matter of fact, oakleaf hydrangeas do not like extremely wet soil, so good drainage is, as to all plants, very important. Like mopheads, oakleafs bloom on old wood, thus pruning should be done before August. Oakleafs prefer shade, especially high shade. Oakleaf hydrangeas don’t seem to be bothered by a lot of plant pests but deer do relish them.

Oakleaf hydrangeas can reach about 8 feet high (and almost that wide), if they are not pruned, and should be placed where no pruning is ever necessary. (Remember the right plant in the right place.) Do remove any damaged or dead canes. As its name suggests the deciduous leaves resemble that of oaks. In the spring oakleaf hydrangeas produce soft green flowers which gradually turn to a creamy white, then fade to rose by July. As if the wonderful flowers were not enough, the leaves turn a beautiful crimson in the fall.  The flowers are conical in shape; some have double florets. Even the bare branches are beautiful as the oakleaf hydrangea has peeling bark and the dried flowers will hang on to the plant through most of the winter adding texture to the winter garden.

‘Snowflake’ – developed by Aldridge Nursery in Birmingham Alabama, it has 12 - 15” double flowers which form a conical flower head; the heads do droop a bit in full bloom

‘Snowqueen’– 6 to 8 inch upright flower clusters with double flowers; it will take a bit more sun than other cultivars and features deep red to bronze fall color

‘Harmony’ – (my personal favorite) – has huge panicles that have a more rounded shape than the first two listed; the flower heads can reach 12 inches and will surely cause the limbs to droop; ‘Harmony’ appreciates water during the heat of the summer and will take your breath away during its blooming season.  Mine is rangy and the highest branches are over 10 feet tall. I do prune this one just a bit to encourage a fuller shape. 

There are still others on the market but the three described above are growing in my garden and have been for more than ten years. Other cultivars come in sizes from almost 12 feet (’Alice’ or ‘Semmes Beauty’) to dwarf, growing only 4 to 5 feet high (‘Pee Wee’).

This native plant deserves a place in any southeastern garden. THE SOUTHERN LIVING GARDEN BOOK notes that blooms may be affected below -10 degrees. Thank goodness I have never encountered that kind of cold, so the oakleaf hydrangeas growing in my garden have never missed a year putting on their spring show. This is one plant that is really effective when massed; instead of planting one, think three, or five. Then step back and sigh. 

If any of you find yourself in Birmingham, Alabama, take the opportunity to visit Aldridge Gardens (Lorna Road near the Galleria). The Gardens are home to Eddie Aldridge’s ‘Snowflake’ and some of the others we have talked about.