Gatsby Star® Oakleaf Hydrangea
Shrub
- We no longer offer this product! For a similar look check out Gatsby Gal Hydrangea!
- Huge clusters of star-shaped double flowers.
- Fragrant blooms attract pollinators all season long.
- Fall interest! Stunning red color and unique peeling bark.
- Low maintenance! No pruning needed.
- Zones 5-9, sun/part sun, 8' tall x 8' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent #: USPP 25,412
Common name: Oakleaf hydrangea
Zone: 5-9
Sun exposure: Sun in cool areas; part shade in warm climates.
Height x width: 6-8' tall and wide
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green, turning deep red-burgundy in autumn
Season of Interest: Summer-fall
Uses: Flower gardens, landscaping, specimen, flowering hedge, pollinator gardens, native plant gardens.
How to Grow
Light: Plants can take full sun (6+ hrs/day) in cooler areas, but afternoon shade is recommended in warm climates. Overall, oakleaf hydrangeas have the best performance in shade compared to other types of hydrangeas, but flowering and fall color are best in at least some sun.
Water: Average. Oakleaf hydrangeas do not tolerate overwatering or poor drainage.
Space: min. 6' apart
Fertilizing: If desired, fertilize in early spring, once the ground has thawed, with a granular rose fertilizer.
Winterizing: Oakleaf hydrangeas are very hardy and easily withstand harsh winters, so need no special care. A good 2-3" layer of mulch helps protect the shallow roots. Do not cut back or prune oakleaf hydrangeas (see below for more info).
Maintenance & Pruning: Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood; that means they have their flowers buds for the following season all through winter, so they cannot be cut back without removing flower buds. It is best to avoid pruning or trimming them altogether, though you may selectively remove branches to develop a nice shape and silhouette if desired.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
I bought one of these last year and it has the most awesome 15 inch flower cones.
These arrived looking very healthy. Great growth over the past few months. Very satisfied!
I ordered this and a Gatsby Gal at the same time. They both arrived looking very, very sad, but the Gatsby Gal bounced back. The Gatsby Star did not and completely died. No fault of the company, I should have ordered when it wasn’t so hot (I’m in TX) but took a chance because there was a BOGO sale happening. Planning to order another Gatsby Star to try again but I’ll wait until it’s not so hot!
Hello! We apologize you received your plants not up to our standards. As we try our best to provide exceptional service, some factors like shipping and handling are outside of our control, and issues like this can sometimes happen. Please email pictures of the plant to [email protected], making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line so that we may provide the best assistance possible. Rest assured, we do have a 60-day guarantee on all of our plants. If you received your plants within that timeframe, we will be happy to apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening!
Received an infected plant- anthracnose. I contacted seller, no response. I properly disposed of plant to prevent spread of disease.
Hello! We take the health of our plants very seriously and our growers are constantly monitoring and caring for the plants in our greenhouse. It looks like one of our customer service representatives requested that you send photos to us on 4/21/22. However, we never received any pictures. If you do have photos of the plant, please send them to [email protected] so that we can address any further issues. We do have a 60-day warranty and would be happy to refund or replace your order once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening!
I ordered 3 plants 2 are ok, I think, but the Oak leaf hydrangea was dried up. I'm sure it won't bloom.
Hello Ralph, thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We're sorry to hear one of your plants arrived dried up, that's not what we like to hear. We offer a 30 day guarantee and are happy to replace or refund plants that arrive damaged/dead or don't survive their first 30 days in your garden. To start a claim, email any pictures you may have and your order # to [email protected]. Thank you again for leaving your feedback!
I have tried to grow hydrangeas several times at my new home. The ones I purchased came in great shape, were easy to plant, and are thriving. I am really happy with the purchase.
Wish I’d got an replacement
Plants were big, healthy and already had blooms. Planted them in the ground and they look amazing.
What is the best hydrangeas for shade
Generally, oakleaf hydrangeas are the best for the shade! Here is a blog about it from our sister site, hydrangea.com: https://hydrangea.com/blogs/growing-tips/throw-some-shade-hydrangeas-for-shade
when do i plant the gatsby star hydrangea?
You can plant it any time from spring through early autumn, provided you will be around to monitor it and provide supplemental water during the hottest days of summer.
Planing on ordering Gatsby Star oak leaf and was wondering if the quart size plant was a nice size or should I upgrade to gallon size? My space is 40’ length and 2’ wide and was spacing 3’ apart so I believe 8 will do?
You can learn more about the difference between quart and gallon sized plants here: https://www.greatgardenplants.com/blogs/content/big-plants-even-bigger-impact. I would definitely recommend the gallon if it works for your budget - you'll get better results sooner. However, the size that you purchase will not change the spacing that you use to plant them. It will just take longer for them to fill in from the quart size, so you'll buy the same quantity of plants either way.