‘Snowflake’

Choice varieties to covet

Some plants have all the luck and, with exciting pointed flowers and fabulous leaf colour, this hydrangea is a double threat to those in its class. Hydrangea quercifolia is native to the south east of America and it takes its species name from the lobed leaves, which resemble those of an oak – quercus. Although it still likes rich living and plenty of soil moisture, it produces its best autumn colours when grown in sun, which ripens the leaves to a blaze of purple, red and orange. This plant tolerates both acid and alkaline soil and, in this species, colour is indifferent to pH so the flowers remain a reliable white, turning pink as they age.

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H/S: Up to 2m (6½ft).