Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice')

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea is a robust, large-scale oakleaf selection with bold, lobed foliage, showy white cone-shaped blooms that age to blush pink, and outstanding burgundy-red fall color; exfoliating bark adds winter interest for four-season appeal in mixed borders and foundation plantings.

Distinctive Features

Huge, upright panicles (often 10 to 14 in) emerge ivory and deepen to pink, while handsome, deeply cut leaves turn rich wine-red in fall and textured, peeling stems provide striking winter character.

Growing Conditions

Plant in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; give morning sun with afternoon shade or bright dappled light to maximize bloom and leaf quality.

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade; best with morning sun and afternoon shade in hotter regions.
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; avoid waterlogged sites.
• Water: Moderate and regular; keep evenly moist during the first growing season, then water during dry spells.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9.
• Mature Size: Typically 8 to 10 ft tall and 8 to 10 ft wide, larger in ideal conditions.
• Bloom Time: Early to midsummer, with panicles holding color into fall.
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, about 5.5 to 7.0.

Ideal Uses

Use as a bold specimen or repeated mass for seasonal drama; combine with fine-textured shrubs and perennials to contrast its large leaves and architectural habit.

• Focal Point: Oversized blooms and fall color anchor shade or part-sun beds.
• Screening/Hedges: Dense habit forms an attractive seasonal privacy layer.
• Mixed Borders: Pairs well with ferns, hosta, and evergreen backdrops.
• Woodland Edges: Thrives in bright shade with consistent moisture.
• Cut Flowers: Panicles suit fresh arrangements and can be dried.

Low Maintenance Care

Light, timely pruning and steady moisture keep plants vigorous; mulch yearly to protect roots and conserve water.

• Watering: Deeply soak during establishment; maintain even moisture in summer heat.
• Pruning: Blooms on old wood; prune lightly just after flowering to shape and remove spent panicles or winter damage.
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or compost in spring; avoid heavy late-season feeding.
• Mulching: 2 to 3 in of shredded bark or leaf mold to moderate soil temperature and retain moisture.
• Notes: Generally resilient; provide airflow to reduce leaf spot, and protect young shoots from late frosts.

Why Choose Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea?

This cultivar delivers oversized flowers, standout fall color, and winter bark interest in a dependable, landscape-scale shrub.

• Four-Season Beauty: Spring flush, summer blooms, fall foliage, and winter bark.
• Big Impact: Large panicles and bold leaves read from a distance.
• Design Versatility: Effective as specimen, hedge, or mass planting.
• Shade Tolerant: Performs in part shade where many hydrangeas struggle.
• Low Upkeep: Minimal pruning with reliable flowering on old wood.

Site in morning sun with afternoon shade, amend the soil with compost, and maintain seasonal mulch to showcase its massive blooms and memorable fall display.