Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers,' commonly known as 'Ruby Slippers' hydrangea, is a striking semi-dwarf cultivar of deciduous hydrangea that is perfect for a variety of places in the home garden. Performing best in rich, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade areas, 'Ruby Slippers' matures to 3-4' tall and wide, allowing it to be planted in smaller spaces, low hedges, and along home foundations. From early to mid summer, this cultivar is noted for its striking cone-shaped flower panicles in shades of white, pink, and ruby red as they mature. Flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, and 'Ruby Slippers' gains multi-season appeal with the purple-red hues of its fall foliage.
After fall foliage has come and gone, coarse mature stems exfoliate to reveal an attractive, chocolate brown inner bark, which adds eye-catching appeal to the winter landscape as well. This cultivar's compact form works in smaller landscapes and is useful for mass planting, hedges or borders, and with year-round aesthetic appeal, Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers' makes an excellent addition to any space in the landscape.