For the lover of all things miniature, we’d like to introduce ‘Munchkin’ Oakleaf Hydrangea. Oakleaf Hydrangea boasts distinct, dark green leaves that resemble oak leaves (hence the name) and blooms with large, ivory inflorescences that gradually fade to pink as they age. Usually, these fantastic shrubs grow to a sprawling 6-8 feet but ‘Munchkin’ matures to a tidy 4 by 4 foot delight. Dramatic color arrives in fall as the leaves darken to a rich mahogany and stick around well into November. 'Munchkin' was developed by the U.S. National Arboretum’s shrub breeding program in McMinnville, Tennessee from seedlings obtained from a 1997 open-pollination of Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Sikes Dwarf’.
Conditions: Full to part shade; medium to moist soils
Size: 3’–4.5’ tall, 3’–4.5’ spread
Zone: 5 – 9
Wildlife Value: Fertile flowers attract small bees and pollinating flies
Photos: Dave Korbonits, Samantha Nestory