Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea Size, Spacing and Sun Requirements

Hydrangea is one of the flowers that you may want to plant in your yard. However, if you want to plant this flower, you may need some information about it including the size, spacing and sun requirements so that you can grow it well. Here, you will get those information.

What is Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea?

The first thing that you need to know is what Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea is. Ruby Slippers is actually a compact form. You are able to have it for smaller spaces. For your information, Ruby Slippers is developed by one of the premier hydrangea hybridizers named Sandra Reed of the US National Arboretum. This type of flower offers a lot of stocky flowers which show up as white and then it matures to deep rose.

The name of this flower is Hydrangea quercifolia, but it is commonly called Oakleaf Hydrangea. This Ruby Slippers is a cross between oak leaf hydrangea cultivars Snow Queen and Pee Wee. These flowers are popular due to their compact size, big upright flower panicles, ruby red mature flowers, mahogany red fall foliage color and exfoliating bark.

At first, you will see that the flowers bloom in white color. But then, it will quickly turn pink before it matures to red ruby. In autumn, the distinctive, deeply-lobed, deep green, a little bit coarse, and the leaves which are like oak will turn interesting shades of mahogany red. The stems which are mature exfoliate to show a rich brown inner bark which is interesting to see in winter. In 2010, Ruby Slippers was introduced into commerce by the US National  Arboretum.

The Size of Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea

How is the size of Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea? The height of it can reach 3 to 4 feet and the wide can reach 3 to 5 feet. This flower blooms in June to July. As explained earlier that it blooms white at the beginning and then it will quickly turn to ruby red.

Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea is popular for its compact size. Besides, it is also known for its large upright flower panicles, ruby red mature flowers, mahogany red fall foliage color and also exfoliating bark.

The robust blooms will be able to remain upright even after heavy rains. In autumn, the dark green and deeply lobed oak-like foliage will change into brilliant mahogany. The compact form can work in a smaller landscape. You are able to use it for mass planting, borders or hedges.

The Spacing of Ruby Slipper Oakleaf Hydrangea

Now, how about the spacing of Ruby Slipper Oakleaf Hydrangea? When it comes to planting this flower, you may think about the spacing. For spacing, you can give it about 4 to 6 feet or it is about 1.2 to 1.8 meters.

As explained earlier that the height of it can reach 3 to 4 feet and the spread can reach about 4 to 5 feet. So, you have to make sure that you need to give spacing well.

This plant can be expected to be able to grow in Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. In addition, it can grow in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, rich, silty loam and well-drained soils.

The Sun Requirements for Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea

After you know about the size of Ruby Slippers and also the spacing, another thing that you need to know about Ruby Slippers is about sun requirement. Giving sunlight for a plant is important since it can help the plant to grow. But, we have to make sure that we give the right portion of sunlight. If not, the plant may be able to grow unwell or even die.

For Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea, you are able to give sunlight in a full sun to partial shade. Also, do not forget to water it. The need for water is high, so you have to make sure that you can water it regularly to maintain evenly moist soil. You can water it weekly or more often.

In the native habitat of this flower, Oakleaf Hydrangeas are understory plants so that they like some afternoon shade, particularly in southern climates where almost full shade may be needed. In the North, Oakleaf Hydrangea can survive with full sun. If there is too much shade, it may be able to reduce the intensity of the fall color.

This plant is like most oakleaf hydrangeas where it requires good drainage. So, you have to make sure that you can give enough moisture while the plant is starting to grow. You are also able to use mulch to keep its shallow roots cool.

The Use of Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea

As you are able to read in the explanation above that Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea is popular for its compact size. This kind of plant is good to be used as a specimen or accent for foundations or the other locations near your homes or patios. You may often see it is in group or mass in shrub borders or in open woodland areas.

It is good for small gardens and when it exfoliates mature branches, it will give you attractive colors and textures in winter. If you have a large container, you are able to grow it there.

How about the disease problem of this plant? If now you really want to have it in your yard, then you can have it now and you do not have to be worried about the serious insect or disease. It is because there are no serious insects or even disease problems with this plant. This plant is just susceptible to leaf blight and powdery mildew. Sometimes, there are aphids and spider mites which approach the plant.

Now, you have known a lot of things about Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea. So, if you really want to have this plant in your house yard, then you are able to grow it. You have to make sure that you can grow it well so that you can see it blooms from white to red ruby.