The Stunning Oakleaf Hydrangea Alternative That Thrives In Full Sun

While stunning oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) certainly add that "wow" factor to your landscaping, they're not ideal for garden areas exposed to full sun all day long. These showy shrubs prefer some shade in the afternoon, or they will droop and wilt. But don't worry if you adore the eye-catching statement hydrangeas make in your yard, because there's an equally amazing alternative that will absolutely thrive in that bright sunny spot. It's a dwarf crape myrtle variety known as Lagerstroemia 'Pocomoke'.

This spectacular hybrid was first released in 1998, and you'll love the deep pink blooms of color it will add to your garden. Like oakleaf hydrangeas, this cultivar would look incredible mass planted along a border, but it looks just as good as a single specimen among other flowering shrubs. You could even grow it as a hedge or in a container to display on that bright corner of your patio or outdoor entertaining area. If you can't decide where to put your plant, consider using hidden pots to create a more flexible garden. This allows you to change your shrub's location with ease. With a maximum height and width of around 5 feet, 'Pocomoke' is the perfect substitute for those attractive oakleaf hydrangeas that just can't handle all that bright sun.

Like the oakleaf hydrangea, 'Pocomoke' crape myrtle displays large panicle blooms. It flowers in summer through fall, and is especially prolific when grown in full sun. It can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 9. You'll also find that 'Pocomoke' is quite drought-tolerant, so it won't need nearly as much watering as a hydrangea would. Well-draining soil is essential for this plant, and if you add some mulch to the soil around the base, it shouldn't need a lot of extra watering. In fact, crape myrtles are considered one of those low-maintenance trees that you will want in your landscaping, so that you can spend more time enjoying your yard rather than working in it. However, if your garden experiences long periods of no rainfall, you might want to water your plant once a week or so.

Conveniently, it's completely okay to prune 'Pocomoke' in winter or early spring because the cultivar blooms entirely on new wood. Oakleaf hydrangeas, on the other hand, bloom on old wood, making them plants that you shouldn't be pruning in early spring. With 'Pocomoke' there's no danger of removing existing flower buds when you give the plant a general tidy-up during this time. But as this is a dwarf hybrid, it's not necessary to shear it back at all. As a bonus, unlike many other crape myrtle species, this cultivar has good resistance to powdery mildew.