Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) in the lobby garden at #3 Washington Square Village.

NYU Garden Shop Plant of the Week--June 8, 2011
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) in the lobby garden at #3 Washington Square Village.

NYU Garden Shop Plant of the Week
By Head Gardener, George Reis
Wednesday June 8, 2011
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) in the lobby garden at #3 Washington Square Village.

When Lynden Miller, New York City's pre-eminent public garden designer recommends a plant, we gardeners listen. I've admired Lynden's use of Oakleaf Hydrangea in her designs so much, I knew I had to give it a try. Madison Square Park, really one of the City's green jewels, is one of the places you can see lots of Oakleaf Hydrangeas along with many other plants introduced there by Lynden Miller. We planted the Oakleaf Hydrangea pictured here at #3 Washington Square Village in the fall of 2007. This southeastern native shrub has it all: ease of care, multi-season interest, and (very important for urban gardens) good shade tolerance.  The white flowers are borne on panicles which vary in size according to the cultivar and the fall color of the foliage is a deep reddish brown. Even in winter, the papery, exfoliating bark provides interest for the back of a perennial border, or in this case at Washington Square Village, under Hawthorn trees on the north side of a tall building. There are many cultivars of this Hydrangea, notable ones include 'Alice,' 'Snowflake,' and 'Snow Queen.'



Previous Plants of the Week:


Wild Indigo
May 31, 2011
Wild Indigo (Baptisia Australis) in Mercer Plaza, 251 Mercer Street.

Arkansas Blue Star

May 24, 2011
Arkansas Blue Star (Amsonia hubrichtii) on the west side of Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer St.

Sunny Knock Out Rose

May 17, 2011
Sunny Knock Out Rose (Rosa 'Radsunny') at 251 Mercer St.

Red Ruby Swiss Chard

May 10, 2011
Red Ruby Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris 'Ruby Chard') sidewalk planters on Greene Street between W 4th Street and Washington Place.

Wild Columbine

May 3, 2011
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) at Founders Hall, 120 East 12th St.

Japanese Flowering Cherry

April 25, 2011
Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata), or 'Kwanzan,' on the Bleecker Street side of Cole Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.

Saucer Magnolia
April 19, 2011
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)   

Daffodil
April 12, 2011
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.) in the sidewalk median at 100 Bleecker Street.

Lenten Rose
April 5, 2011
Lenten Rose (Helleborus x hybridus) in the sidewalk median at 100 Bleecker Street.

Camellia
March 29, 2011
Camellia 'April Remembered' (Camellia japonica 'April Remembered') at Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.

Japanese Maple
Mar 22, 2011 
Coral Bark Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku') at Glucksman Ireland House

Hamamelis
Mar 18, 2011 
Witch-hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) at #2 Washington Square Village Lobby Garden. (interior of Washington Square Village, W 3rd Street just west of Mercer)

Crocus Species
Mar 8, 2011
Crocus species mix on Bleecker Street side of NYU Coles Sports Center

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