Semmes Beauty Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Semmes Beauty’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub
Height at Maturity: 8-10′
Width at Maturity: 10-12′
Spacing: 8′ apart for hedge; 14’+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Natural Mound
Flower Color: White turning to Rose Pink
Flower Size: Large , up to 14″
Flowering Period: Summer through Fall
Flower Type: Single in large, long panicles
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Dark Green with Light Green undersides
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: NA
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Part Shade. Some afternoon shade in the Deep South is appreciated.
Water Needs: Average, low when established
Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist
Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0 (Acid to Neutral)
Maintenance / Care: Very Low
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Disease, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity, Insect, Mildew
Description
With enormous flower clusters up to 14 inches long, ‘Semmes Beauty’ is an outstanding Oakleaf Hydrangea selected for its vigor and tolerance of the heat and humidity in the South. This magnificent beauty is a 4-season color factory. Large, oak-shaped, dark green leaves emerge in early spring followed by elongated, showy clusters of four-petaled ivory color flowers that turn to a rose-pink in late summer and fall. But the color show doesn’t stop there. Striking shades of crimson and bronze purple foliage light up the fall garden. The flowers dry to a soft tan color and persist through the winter, contrasting nicely with the exfoliating copper-brown, cinnamon and tan bark. The cut flowers are great for use in fresh or dried flower arrangements.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing in a mound of 8 to 10 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide, Semmes Oakleaf Hydrangea is ideal for use as an accent or specimen, in groupings or mass plantings, or as a natural hedge in landscape and flowering shrub borders or home foundation plantings. Right at home in the partially sunny woodland border or cottage and cut flower gardens. Also a nice addition to white color themed gardens and tropical-look gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 8 feet apart for hedge; 14 feet or more for space between plants
Growing Preferences
Semmes Oakleaf Hydrangea is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained, soil with average fertility and full sun to part shade in northern zones where it will grow and shade to part shade (morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sun) in southern zones. It prefers a soil rich in organic matter. For best flowering, we suggest 6 hours of direct sun light per day. As with so many other ornamental plants, a constantly soggy or wet soil is problematic. Highly resistant to pests and diseases.
Note: Semmes is a Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf) species that produces its flowers from buds that formed on “old wood” (during the previous year). Oakleaf hydrangeas typically require little to no pruning. They are best left alone. That said they can be pruned to remove a stray branch or to reduce size.
For proper pruning time and techniques on various types of Hydrangea see: How To Prune Various Types Of Hydrangea
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Oakleaf Hydrangeas.
How To Plant Hydrangeas In The Ground & Pots
How To Prune Various Types Of Hydrangea
How To Fertilize And Water Hydrangeas
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us























Reviews
There are no reviews yet.