If you are walking through the woods in the southern Unites States you will find Oak Leaf Hydrangea in bloom all over the place this time of year.

And while it is native to the south eastern United States, it is a great summer flowering shrub for upstate New York gardens. I have had one planted for six or seven years now in a spot where it never gets any direct sun. It puts on about six or eight inches of growth per year and it has these clean white flowers that come in early July and last the better part of the month. Then in August, the flowers fade to a nice pink before turning tan in the fall.

They are called oak leaf hydrangea because the leaves have a distinct oak like shape to them and the leaves at the bottom can grow to be very big.

After all the leaves have dropped, the bark of this shrub peels off and reveals a nice cinnamon color effect that is very attractive in the winter months when the snow starts falling.

So consider the oak leaf hydrangea if you are looking for a nice summer blooming plant with great season appeal.