Snapshot: The little oakleaf that could

Last year, I planted two oakleaf hydrangeas here — one in front of the house in the Spring, and one out back in late Summer. (The latter was actually planted by the friend who got the tiny forest started.) This is a plant I always wanted but was unable to grow in CA and FL, and the only thing I planted in TN ... just moments before we moved away. So as you can imagine, I welcomed every gorgeous new leaf with joy. Then in the Fall, when I guess they had run out of tastier options on the neighborhood’s all-you-can-eat buffet, some deer chewed both plants all the way to the ground.

Neither of them bloomed this spring, as all their energy went into regrowing stems and leaves, and I have fully supported them in this. I tell them all the time how proud I am of them, and how pretty they’re looking. The one out front — her name is ‘Alice’ — is back to about a 3- or 4-foot mound already. And a few days ago, here in latter July, I noticed she’s decided to give a single bloom a try!

I thought this was valiant on her part, but in digging out the plant tag to record the details below, it seems maybe this particular one is a late bloomer by nature? Time will tell ...

PLANT DETAILS:
• Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’
• Full sun to shade
• Likes moist, well-drained soil
• Grows quickly to 5-8' tall x 5-8' wide
• 14" conical white flower clusters
• Leaves turn deep burgundy in fall
• “Exfoliating cinnamon bark” for winter interest