Gatsby Pink® Oakleaf Hydrangea

It’s amazing to see a native oakleaf hydrangea out in a woodland, but it can be hard to picture it in a garden. That’s where the Gatsby series of H. quercifolia comes into play. This lovely native species has become accessible to ornamental, small-scale woodland, and any other garden imaginable. With Gatsby Pink® you get true panache. Its flowers are perfect lacecaps, mounded into panicles that are larger than footballs. Let’s just say, they really stand out. In summer the blooms emerge pure white and slowly mature to a captivating dark shade of pink. Often by that time the oak leaf-shaped foliage has also started to gain its fall color, a rich shade of mahogany-purple. Together this makes an incredibly colorful show and looks perfect when used as a border plant, tall hedge, or in mixed borders with other whimsical natives.

Why grow Gatsby Pink® oakleaf hydrangea?

  • Unbeatable fall color in flowers and foliage.
  • A native that attracts pollinators.
  • Very shade tolerant – finally a way to get big color into low-sun areas!

Additional information

Dimensions6 × 6 ft
Botanical Name

Hydrangea quercifolia 'JoAnn' PP#27,879, CBR#5639

Zone

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Flower Color

Pink, White

Foliage Color

Green

Height

6-8'

Width/Spread

6-8'

Exposure

Full Sun, Part Shade

Soil

Average, Well-drained

Bloom Time

Summer

Uses

Borders, Foundations, Hedges, Mass Planting, Naturalizing, Screening, Specimen, Woodland gardens

Features

Alkaline soil, Attracts pollinators, Clay soil, Fall interest, Foliage interest, Heat tolerant, Native, Salt tolerant

Blooms On

Old wood

Breeder

Powell Gardens

Plant Care

Light: While this is the most shade-tolerant type of hydrangea, it still needs some sun to produce flowers and get lovely fall color. All day dappled light or at least 4 hours of morning sun should be sufficient. For gardens at the cooler end of the hardiness range, it will thrive in full sun. For gardens at the warmer end of the range, it benefits from placement in afternoon shade.

Soil: Prefers moist soil that drains easily. Any period of extended sogginess will not be tolerated. Soil pH does not affect flower color.

Water: Average water needs.

Fertilizing: Nothing special required. If desired, you may apply a granular fertilizer formulated for flowering woody plants in late winter/early spring when the soil is workable.

Pruning: Pruning is not generally recommended. Flower buds are formed on old wood, so any cuts will likely remove flowering potential. Dead or damaged wood can be removed at any time, just cut back to a set of leaves. If you’d like to prune to shape the plant, this can be done when the plant is starting to break dormancy in early spring or late winter.

Other: Looks its best when established in the landscape, so trust that the awkward habit it may have in its nursery pot will transform into beauty.