Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ #3 (Oakleaf Hydrangea)

‘Ruby Slippers’ is a cultivated variety of the southeastern US native, Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). Its parents are Snow Queen™ and ‘Pee Wee’ Oakleaf Hydrangeas, resulting in a compact form with extra large, upright flower inflorescences. This is why ‘Ruby Slippers’ is one of the best Oakleaf Hydrangea cultivars for the residential landscape! The abundant, pyramidal panicles of bright white flowers in early summer will age to rosy pink and then deep, ruby red. Pruning is rarely necessary, but if it is desired, the best time to do so is just after flowering. Blooms occur on old wood and the flowers are sterile.

The deeply lobed, oak-like leaves are dark green and glossy in the summer, turning to a brilliant, wine red in fall before being shed from the plant. The spent, papery flowers remain on the plant throughout winter, and paired with the attractive exfoliating bark of mature trunks, provides some very welcome ornamental qualities to the late fall and winter landscape. The small, mounded habit of ‘Ruby Slippers’ is put to excellent use in foundation plantings, the foreground of shrub borders, as a short, deciduous hedge or even in large containers!

Sources:
Missouri Botanical Garden
US National Arboretum Plant Indroduction