Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea
Shrub
- Big mophead flowers give a lush, full look.
- Perfect for an eye-catching specimen!
- Gorgeous red fall color and unique peeling bark.
- Low maintenance! No pruning required.
- Zones 5-9, sun/part sun, 8' tall x 8' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent #: USPP 25,413
Common name: Oakleaf hydrangea
Zone: 5-9
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun) in cool areas; part-sun (4-6 hours sun) 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
Bloom time: Summer, fall
Features: Proven Winners, privacy & screening, native, heat tolerant, fall color, best for beginners
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.
Well, 2 out of 3 were green and I was exciting about. One came without any green...I hope it can grow, I ordered more today and hoping for the best. I just love hydrangeas.
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee, so please reach out to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary.
I’m so delighted with my hydrangeas! To be honest, I was expecting leafless plants like I’ve gotten in the past from other websites.
These are absolutely beautiful, green, filled with healthy leaves!!
I’m so pleased, I’m looking around my yard to see where I can plant more!!
Thank you so much!
I received this plant on accident when ordering Gatsby Pink. Not wanting to let a good plant go to waste, I haphazardly planted it in our pool area. This is our first full year with the plant and I am wishing my whole order would have been Gatsby Moon! Now that I’ve figured out what it is, I will be ordering more. Can’t describe how beautiful the blooms are and how simple the care has been. I live in central Texas and it’s survived ice and heat!
One of the three I ordered arrived in poor condition and has already died
Hi Courtney, we’re so sorry one of your three plants arrived in poor condition. Please contact our customer service team at [email protected] with your order number so we can look into this further and help make it right.
Perfection!!!
I would classify the oakleaf hydrangeas I received to still be in the incubation stage. They were not ready for planting out into a landscape. I planted them in bigger pots and have held their hands for a month to get them to the size I think I should have received for the amount of money they cost. Next time please tell me you don’t have any available if this is what your stock looks like. Lucky to have saved them.
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee, so please reach out to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary.
Arrived beautiful.
Both arrived in good shape. Have only been planted for about a week and they seem to be doing bery good. So far so good.
Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea
These are very small plants for the price. I have faith that they will grow quickly though and they were shipped very fast and protected.
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2026, so we have you covered. Please send your order number and pictures of your plants to us to start the claims process if necessary. We look forward to helping!
Fabulous. Growing like a bloomer
Love them
The Gatsby and 2 other oak hydrangeas arrived healthy and well packed. I planted them immediately and our fall has been warm so I’m hoping for good rooting. I gave four stars because I want to be sure the small plants survive the winter- then I will raise my stars to 5 in the spring!!!
So far, they’re doing fine. I’m hoping for the next season.
very happy so far
The Pink one that was sent was in pretty poor shape and we planted it anyway but it's dead already the white one seems to be doing OK
Hi! Thank you for leaving us feedback. 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 any plant(s) in question 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!
Although they were small, they were very healthy and are growing very well! Every plant arrived healthy, and every plant is thriving!
The plants reached me in very bad shape. GGP was quick and wonderful in getting new plants to me, but unfortunately those came with rust. Hoping I can nurse them back. Great customer service but plant health was not so great.
This plant arrived in excellent condition already sporting 2 blooms. It has since settled in, is putting on nice growth, and the wonderful cone is flowering. This is going to be a showstopper! Thank you for the beautiful plant.
My Gatsby Moon Oakleaf Hydrangea (what a great name!) is loving the sun and getting huge! We're due for a heatwave over the next few days, so it's currently in a pot in the shade, and I'm watering it often. When things cool down I'll be giving Mr. Gatsby pride of place in a terraced flowerbed across from our front door, with plenty of fresh soil. I've got a canopy with sun-shielding fabric I can put over it, just to ride out the heat if it continues. The blooms may not arrive until next season, but I'll be keeping this beauty dewy, healthy and happy until then. Thank you!
I got 3 Gatsby Moon Oakleaf Hydrangea this spring and they have never stopped blooming! The leaves are huge and I literally gasped when I first saw them! I think they are very unique and I love them.
I ordered 2 but they have different leaf structures and buds are very different. Both were labeled gastby moon but you sent me two different plants
Hello Matt!
I'm sorry to hear you think you received two different plants. Send some pictures to us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to look into this for you!
The plants are well packed. Healthy specimens we’re shipped And have done well since being planted. I look forward to many years of blooms because I enjoy having plants or flowers in my home during the season.
Very small and overpriced
When do Gatsby Moon Oak Leaf Hydrangeas bloom? I purchased two plants in April. I planted them and they grew large, but never bloomed.
Hi there! Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea blooms in summer and fall. You may not get blooms the first year or two as the plant is putting its energy into getting established. Once that has happened, energy can go toward flower production.
How long does it take a Gatsby Moon to reach maturity? How much should I expect it to grow the first year from a quart plant?
Generally, it takes shrubs 5 years to reach maturity. Perhaps you're familiar with the old saying about plants: first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap. This applies to plants in the garden center as well as plants you purchase online. They generally spend their first year growing roots in their new home, the second year they have more energy to put into growth, and the third year, they are growing and flowering vigorously.
Are these deer resistant?
Oakleaf Hydrangea has a C rating from Rutgers meaning it is occasionally severely damaged by deer. It might be a good idea to plant them with additional protection such as the use of fencing, repellents, etc.
Can I grow the “ tiny tuff “ hydrangea in a north front and east at the left of the house? Thank you Gloria
Thank you for contacting us! This 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.
Base on the location it should be fine. This hydrangea will be getting sunlight in the morning which is best for colder climate. As long as it gets 6 plus hours of sun if you live in a cool climate is fine but afternoon shade is recommended in warm climates.
It sounds like it is a good location to grow the Gatsby Moon Oakleaf Hydrangea.