Ruby Slippers Dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea

Ruby Slippers provides the same four-season appeal and lavish flower production as its larger growing Oakleaf Hydrangea cousins but in less than half the space. LOADS of large, elongated flower clusters open to white in late spring or early summer and change to a dazzling ruby red as the season progresses. But the color show doesn't stop with the flowers. The bold, oak-shaped green leaves turn a magnificent mahogany red color in fall. The dried flowerheads and the peeling rich brown color bark provides interest in the garden throughout the winter months. Growing in a mound to only 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, Ruby Slippers Hydrangea is an excellent selection for smaller garden spaces where larger oakleaf hydrangeas won't fit. Ruby Slippers is ideal for use as an accent or specimen, in groupings or mass plantings, or as a low natural hedge in landscape and flowering shrub borders or home foundation plantings. Its smaller size makes it perfect for use in pots, planters and other containers of 14 inches or more in rim diameter. 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. Ruby Slippers 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. Ruby Slippers 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.