Hydrangea quercifolia Bocotoso Toy Soldier

Hydrangea quercifolia, endemic to south eastern United States, grows in colonies sprouting shoots from underground stolons with young stems covered in felt like light brown bark and larger stems covered in an attractive cinnamon tan orange bark that shreds and peels in thin flakes. The lobed foliage of the coarse textured open crown deciduous shrub are yellowish green to dark green and silvery white underneath and turn to rich shades of red, bronze and purple in autumn that persist in winter accompanied by papery rusty brown dried flower heads. Subtly scented flowers emerge in cone shaped clusters in a pale green colour, open to a bright white and age to cream pink and brown. Oakleaf hydrangea grow larger leaves in the shade than in the sun. In nature, oak leaved hydrangeas grow in woodland habitats on well drained shady slopes like riverbanks, bluffs, cliffs and rocky outcroppings in calcareous to deep alluvial soils. This hortensia species flowers on old wood in early summer through autumn and does not require frequent pruning except to remove dead, damaged or diseases stems.
USDA zones 5 to 9.
Height x Width: 5ft x 5ft