Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'
Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'
How are the heights measured?
All tree, and nothin' but the tree! We measure from the top of the soil to the top of the tree; the height of the container or the root system is never included in our measurements.
What is a gallon container?
Nursery containers come in a variety of different sizes, and old-school nursery slang has stuck. While the industry-standard terminology is to call the sizes "Gallon Containers", that doesn't exactly translate to the traditional liquid "gallon" size we think of. You'll find we carry young 1-gallons, up to more mature 7-gallons ranging anywhere from 6 inches to 6ft.
How does the delivery process work?
All of our orders ship via FedEx Ground! Once your order is placed online, our magic elves get right to work picking, staging, boxing and shipping your trees. Orders typically ship out within 2 business days. You will receive email notifications along the way on the progress of your order, as well as tracking information to track your plants all the way to their new home!
Why are some states excluded from shipping?
The short & sweet answer is: "United States Department of Agriculture Restrictions." Every state has their own unique USDA restrictions on which plants they allow to come into their state. While we wish we could serve everyone, it's for the safety of native species and helps prevent the spread of invasive disease & pests. We've gotta protect good ole' Mother Nature, after all.
About Me
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Hydrangeas are great plants for shady areas but in warmer regions they need a lot of care and watering. That is not so with the native oak-leaf hydrangea, which is much more tolerant of hot and dry conditions. The common types come only in white, but the Ruby Slippers Hydrangea has stunning rose-colored flowers that really bring color and life to partially-shaded areas and to sunny ones too. The conical flower-clusters are large and long-lasting, blooming all summer and into fall as well.
- The most heat and drought tolerant hydrangea available
- Fantastic pinky-red flowers last for months
- Easily grown in sun or shade
- Fabulous fall colors with striking leaf form
- Trouble free and low-maintenance
The Ruby Slippers Hydrangea is the perfect choice for an easy, striking shrub that you will love. The bold, lobed foliage is gorgeous in form and turns spectacular shades of gold, red and orange in fall. No special care is needed, a great plant for low-maintenance and its a native plant too for natural landscaping.
- Plant Hardiness Zones 5-9
- Mature Width 3-5
- Mature Height 3-4
- Sun Needs Full Sun, Partial Sun
Adding small shrubs to your garden is a great way to build up visual interest, and create a pleasing transition from your low ground-growing plants up to your taller trees. They can also serve as a focal point that you want to be the highlight of your outdoor space. Mature gardens rarely have enough space to accommodate larger varieties of hydrangea, though, but choosing a dwarf variety like Ruby Slippers fits a whole host of needs for gardeners.
The Ruby Slippers Hydrangea can replace plants that have died out and left a barren space, or fill in a spot that other foliage didn’t cover as it matured. In newly landscaped spaces or ones currently in the design phase, inclusion of the smaller variations of hydrangeas will add the bursts of color your garden will need while other plants and trees come to maturity. The transition of a new garden to a mature one can be both beautiful and interesting to watch over the months.
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ was developed by one of the most prestigious hydrangea hybridizers, Sandra Reed of the U.S. National Arboretum, and is one of the few hydrangea plants native to the United States that can be found along rivers and streams from Florida up to Georgia. It was not introduced for sale until 2010.
Growing Ruby Slippers Hydrangeas
At maturity, Ruby Slippers can reach 4 feet with up to a 5 foot spread. It forms in a near perfect dome shape with panicles full of flowers that first appear white in the spring. These panicles can reach up to nine inches in length and has a wider base that narrows towards the tip, forming a conical shape. As summer approaches the blossoms quickly turn to a light pink color, and then eventually to the dark rose color the plant is named for. The panicles form upright among the shrub’s dark green foliage. The display of color doesn’t stop here though!
The foliage, which is similar in appearance to oak leaves, also undergoes changes into the fall when it turns to a vibrant mahogany red color. This shrub’s leaves are very distinctive, with deep lobes and a slightly coarse texture. Even the bark on the Ruby Slippers is attractive, with mature stems exfoliating to reveal richly colored brown inner bark. This adds an added touch of visual interest in the winter months when the plants leaves and flowers have pulled back.
Hardiness and Climate
Hydrangeas perform best when planted within USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 9. Locations in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas and parts of Florida are ideal for this particular shrub. It really loves the heat and can tolerate humidity quite well too. In cooler locations Ruby Slippers will benefit from receiving the full sun throughout the day, but in the warmer states some filtered shade is recommended to avoid damage from prolonged exposure to the hot mid-day sun.
Growing in Cold Locations
When planting in colder locations, with temperatures that fall below -10 degrees, the Ruby Slippers Hydrangea may need some sort of protection against excessive snow, ice or whipping cold winds. You can take precautionary measures by covering the plant in an insulated type fabric like burlap, to help protect it against the elements. If left to fend for itself the plant can suffer serious frost damage that might result in irreversible damage to the flower buds.
Growing in Hot Locations
In hotter climates, where you may experience long periods without rainfall, you will want to adopt a suitable watering regime to ensure that the root system does not dry out. This hydrangea will thrive amazingly well in moist soils that are full of organic richness and have good drainage. The dome shape of this shrub makes it a great candidate to plant on mounds, which will allow excess water to run off.
Pests and Diseases
To date, this new species of hydrangea has shown no serious disease or insect problems. It is susceptible to occasional leaf blight or powdery mildew. This can be combatted by removing affected leaves or branches. Aphids are drawn to this shrub but do not appear to cause noticeable damage. Blooms will occur on old wood that may appear dead, so it is best to wait until the new growth season begins before pruning back your hydrangea. In most cases, you will not need to prune back any new growth and just have to remove any dead branches. Ruby Slippers really is that easy to take care of!
Adding Ruby Slippers Hydrangeas to Your Property
Ruby Slippers is the perfect compact hydrangea that can be used alone as a single specimen for strong focal points, or adapted as an accent plant for the foundation around your home or other buildings. Mass plantings look exceptional in open areas surrounded by taller plants or trees, and it makes for a great informal hedge that looks and smells much better than a traditional fence. If your outdoor living space is even smaller, you will be pleased to know that Ruby Slippers can tolerate container planting and make a great addition to your backyard patio or indoor conservatory. However you choose to utilize this plant in your garden, it is certainly going to be a smart addition.
