Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Cornales
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Genus: Hydrangea
Species: H. quercifolia
Binomial name: Hydrangea quercifolia
Common names: Oakleaf hydrangea
This plant is poisonous
Visit Phil Bendle Collection:Poisonous Plants in New Zealand
Hydrangea quercifoliais a species of flowering plant native to continental south eastern North America. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 8 metres and develops white showy flower heads. Flowers range in colour from creamy white, ageing to pink and by autumn and winter are a dry, papery rusty brown. Unlike Hydrangea macrophylla, flower colour does not vary with soil pH.
The leaves are yellowish green to dark green on top and silvery-white underneath. They have three, five or seven pointed lobes and are 10.2–30.5 cm long and almost as wide. Hydrangea quercifolia leaves turn shades of red, bronze and purple in autumn.
Photographed at Tupare, New Plymouth.
An early flowerbud. Mid november
