Oak-Leaved Hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia is a super-stylish shrub I grow. It's an oak-leaved hydrangea, with beautifully shaped summer flowers and beautifully coloured oak-like autumn leaves.

A Struggling Shrub

My shrub has to struggle through a cherry rambling fence rose to be seen. And, like my other hydrangeas, it responds well to discrete (and indiscrete) summer watering sessions.

High Style

In my early gardening days I was hugely influenced by English garden writers, and I remember this shrub being given a high style score. Its flower-heads are elongated and creamy white in colour - the pink tinges in this picture may be due to rain.

My oak-leaved hydrangea would get noticed more if it had more room to breathe and stretch out. So I need to trim back the cherry rambler after flowering. And to discipline the neighbouring patch of Comfrey, which is sprawling in every direction by mid-summer. I'll try and remember - I promise!