Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice'

Nature Hills Nursery

Massive 16-Inch Flower Panicles Transform from Snowy-White to Soft Pink Throughout Summer
Thrives in Zones 5-9
Native, Pollinator-Friendly Shrub
Showy Pink, White, Mixed Blooms From Early Summer to Late Summer
Perfect for Hedge in Butterfly Gardens

$66⁹³

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Plant Size

#2 Container #3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: For the best flower production and the most vibrant burgundy fall color, give Alice at least 6 hours of direct morning sun. While it handles partial shade well, especially in the afternoon heat of the South, too much shade can lead to leggy growth and fewer blooms.
Soil: This hydrangea thrives in rich, organic soil that drains as well as a well-wrung sponge. If you have heavy clay, plant it in a raised mound or add compost to the native soil to ensure the roots never sit in stagnant water, which can cause root rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first two growing seasons, provide Alice with about an inch of water per week to help the root system expand. Once established, this variety is more drought-tolerant than its Bigleaf cousins, but inconsistent moisture during a dry spell will cause the large leaves to wilt and the flowers to fade prematurely. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to keep the soil temperature steady and moisture locked in.

Pruning Tips

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea blooms on old wood, which means the flower buds for next year are formed shortly after the current flowers fade. If you need to manage its size or remove spent blooms, do your pruning in mid-summer immediately after the flowers turn papery. Think of it like a scheduled haircut; pruning too late in the fall or winter will accidentally remove next year’s entire floral display.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as the new leaves begin to emerge. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft, green growth that won't be tough enough to survive the first hard frost of winter.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Native, Flowering, Fall Color/Interest, Attracts pollinators, Drought resistant, Heat Tolerant, Hedge/Screen, Non-invasive
Hardiness Zone	5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Partial shade
Height	8-12 ft
Width	8-12 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Bushy, Upright
Blooms In	Summer
Flower Color	White
Foliage Color	Green
Fragrant	Yes
Native	Yes
Pet Safety	Toxic to pets
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Hydrangea
Botanical Name	Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice'
Species	quercifolia
Cultivar	Alice
Class	Magnoliopsida, Cornales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Large In Charge Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea

Native Hydrangea Cultivar
Huge Cone-Shaped Panicles are Well Over a Foot-Long
Fragrant Blooms Start Snowy-White and Age to Pink
Supports Beneficial Pollinators and Butterflies
Showy Oak-Shaped Leaves
Burgundy Crimson Fall Color
Excellent Shrub for Screening, Hedges and Background
Winning Choice for Partial Shade

Let this gorgeous shrub effortlessly carry your landscape design across the seasons. Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea, (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice') is a modern cultivar of a native plant.

Alice was carefully selected for its incredible blooms, and wonderful fall color that lasts late into the season. Over time, it develops into a rounded, broad outline.

One of the largest Oakleaf Hydrangeas available, Alice develops enormous, pointed panicles composed of many dozens of true flowers. How many butterflies will fit on a bloom that is 14 inches long?

Plant Alice Oakleaf and you'll get a chance to find out! This wonderfully rustic shrub is a beloved nectar resource for local pollinators all over your neighborhood.

This deciduous bloom factory starts the display with white flowers on an elongated structure. The huge flower panicles will rival any other flowering shrubs in your yard as they stand erect on their sturdy stems.

The blossoms begin white, but slowly transition to warm pink tones as the summer progresses. Over the season, you actually get two flower colors on the same plant, and in the same year!

Hydrangeas are always impressive plants for their long-lasting blooms, but Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea has an added attraction of uniquely beautiful foliage. Deeply lobed, eight-inch Oak-like leaves are held densely on branches with lovely brown bark.

In autumn, the leaves take on outstanding crimson and purple hues. This spectacular fall display establishes Alice's reputation as an exceptional addition to any yard.

This is one of the few Hydrangeas that are native to the United States. It's a remarkable plant with unbelievable color, and you'll be proud to grow it!

Plant several today for that head-turning effect in your own landscape. Order Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea from our native shrub experts today!

How to Use Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea in the Landscape

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea makes an impressive anchor in your foundation planting. Use one at the corner of your home to command attention.

Include them in modern shrub borders for easy-care, ornamental charm. They can also be used in the understory of arching ornamental trees.

Create a wonderfully informal hedge with several Alice Hydrangea repeated at the back of your mixed shade garden planting beds. The Oak-shaped leaves contrast beautifully with large-leaved shade staples, like Hosta.

They'll also look incredible as a large-scale facer plant in front of mature evergreen trees. Add flowers and fall color on the east side of your established windbreaks to brighten up the overall look.

Plant them along a fence for eye-catching visual interest and privacy screen. For a solid hedge, plant them five feet apart on center...measuring from the center of one to the center of the next.

Keep one as a specimen in a high-profile area. Snip some of the blooms as they near their peak for incredible indoor cut flowers that can be dried for seasonal decorations.

Alice has a rough texture that works perfectly in woodland settings. Create a private respite around your Tiny House or She-Shed with a pretty, hard-working border of this large, native shrub.

Don't let a side yard sit empty. Turn these overlooked parts of your landscape into a special feature.

Two or three of these shrubs can be utilized to create a private destination spot. Hide out in a hammock chair with a good book...surrounded by their dynamic charm.

Garden rooms help you live large. Take advantage of the multiple seasons of interest garnered by this large Oakleaf variety.

#ProPlantTips for Care

They do best in well-drained soils in part shade with at most four hours of sunlight a day. They perform best out of full sun.

We highly recommend Nature Hills Root Booster during planting. The ingredients include mycorrhizal fungus and develop a symbiotic relationship for life-long support for the feeder roots.

Pay close attention to watering during the first season as the root system gets established. Thereafter, apply additional moisture when the top few inches begin to dry.

Apply a three-inch layer of mulch to keep them cool. Then pull it back away from directly touching the stems.

In early spring, feed them a slow-release fertilizer designed for flowering shrubs. Keep nitrogen-rich lawn fertilizers away from blooming plants, or you'll inadvertently reduce the beautiful flowers

Plan for the full spread to avoid having to control size. This variety blooms on last year's wood, so shape it directly after flowering is done. Don't delay, or you'll cut off the developing flower buds for next year's blooms.

We're excited to grow, sell and ship Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea. It's a very popular choice, so please place your order with NatureHills.com today!

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Growing Zones 5-9

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Frequently Asked Questions

How tall and wide does Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea grow at maturity?

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea reaches 6-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide at maturity. This large cultivar develops a rounded, broad outline over time. Allow plenty of space when planting, as it's one of the largest Oakleaf Hydrangeas available.

What are the soil requirements for planting Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea?

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea thrives in well-draining, moderately fertile soil with consistent moisture. This native cultivar adapts to various soil types but prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH. Avoid waterlogged conditions while ensuring adequate water during dry spells.

How much sun or shade does Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea need?

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea thrives in partial shade conditions. As a native woodland plant, it performs best with morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled light throughout the day. Plant it where it receives 3-6 hours of sunlight for optimal blooming and fall color.

Is Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea drought tolerant once established?

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea develops good drought tolerance once established, typically after 2-3 growing seasons. As a native US species, it's naturally adapted to variable moisture conditions. Water regularly during establishment, then this resilient shrub will handle dry spells well.

How do I prune Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea without removing next year's blooms?

Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so prune immediately after flowering ends in late summer. Remove only dead or damaged wood and shape lightly if needed. For best results with Alice varieties, shop at Nature Hills for healthy plants that establish strong branching.

What kind of fall color and winter interest does Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea provide?

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea delivers spectacular burgundy-crimson fall foliage that persists late into the season. The eight-inch oak-shaped leaves transform from green to outstanding crimson and purple hues. Plant in partial shade for the best fall color display.

Are there any common pests or diseases affecting Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea?

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea is generally pest and disease resistant as a native plant. Occasional issues include aphids, spider mites, and powdery mildew in humid conditions. Ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering to prevent problems.

Will Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea ship bare root or potted, and how do I handle it upon arrival?

Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea ships as a potted plant, not bare root. Upon arrival, water thoroughly if the soil feels dry and place in partial shade to acclimate. Plant within a few days for best establishment.