Oak-Leaf Hydrangea Blooms

The oak-leaf hydrangea is finally blooming!

Isn't it pretty?

The Peckerwood cultivar of oak-leaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia)

And look how big it is--the flower heads are ~8 inches long.

Peckerwood specimen in back; Great Outdoors in front

Interestingly, our two different OLH specimens produce vastly different flowers. The big one above came from Peckerwood (seems appropriate, somehow), while the older shrub below came from Great Outdoors.

Little bitty oak-leaf hydrangea flower

Astonishing difference, no? The one from GO is half the size or less than the one from Peckerwood. Unfortunately, neither was labeled by cultivar--just "Oak-leaf hydrangea." So all I can recommend to future OLH buyers is to buy them in late Apr/early May while they're in bloom.

This is very nice, and very cool and green and pretty--but imagine what they'll look like next year, when they're (I hope) twice the size!