Oakleaf Hydrangea

A Florida native plant, Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a deciduous shrub native to the North American Southeast. This species like a slightly acidic soil and a great deal of shade, preferring morning or filtered sunlight. Now cultivated as an ornamental plant, Oakleaf Hydrangea is a native plant that is fairly easy to find and perfect for under-story or shade gardens. Tampa is near to the southern edge of this plant's range.

Three Oakleaf Hydrangea can be found outside of the MOSI butterfly garden beneath a small camphor tree surrounded by pentas and canna lilies. They are just coming in to bloom this week and we hope to see many flowers from them over the summer.

What's in a Name?: 

• Hydrangea definition from the Online Etymology Dictionary: hydrangea (n.)  1753, coined in Modern Latin by Carolus Linnæus as compound of Greek hydr-, stem of hydor "water" (see water (n.1)) + angeion"vessel, capsule" (see angio-); so called from the shrub's cup-shaped seed pods.

• The specific name, quecifolia, was described by John Bartram from the Latin words quercus "oak", and folium "leaf". John and William Bartram found the plant during the 1770's as they explored the North American Southeast.