‘Ruby Slippers’ oakleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'
‘Ruby Slippers’ is a compact form of oakleaf hydrangea, which is a must-have for smaller spaces. Developed by one of the premier hydrangea hybridizers, Sandra Reed of the U.S. National Arboretum, ‘Ruby Slippers’ boasts a multitude of stocky flowers that show up as white and then mature to striking deep rose.
Care‘Ruby Slippers’, like most oakleaf hydrangeas, requires good drainage. Be sure to provide adequate moisture while the plant is getting established, and use mulch to keep its shallow roots cool. Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on last year’s growth, so prune them minimally after they bloom—not in early spring, when you’ll be removing flower buds. Deer browsing can be a problem. —Andy Pulte, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee in Knoxville

A profusion of exceptionally large, white blooms in summer that quickly age to deep pink. Robust blooms remain upright even after heavy rains. Dark green, deeply lobed oak-like foliage turns brilliant mahogany in fall. The compact form works in smaller landscapes and is useful for mass planting, hedges or borders.