Little Honey Hydrangea is a dwarf cultivar with bright golden-yellow foliage in spring that matures to chartreuse in summer and is its best asset. White flowers are in clusters June- July. This shrub grows to 3-4 feet tall and wide making it ideal for smaller yards and spaces. It blooms on old wood, so any pruning needed should be done right after flowering. The fall color is excellent in reds. Mature plants have peeling bark giving it some winter interest. Grow in full sun to dappled shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soils. It looks great as a specimen, in foundation plantings or a shrub border. In colder climates, it is best planted in a sheltered location. More information on Hydrangea quercifolia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheHydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee'Hydrangea serrata 'Omacha Variegata'Stewartia malacodendron
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate; Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
4-7 inch long oak-shaped leaves with 5 lobes and serrated margins in golden yellow maturing to chartreuse in summer. Fall color in reds.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
4-5 inch conical clusters of white flowers with pink tones consist mostly of sterile 4-petaled flowers. Blooms June- July
Bloom time
Summer
Bark detail
The bark peels with age
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Cultivar of the native oakleaf hydrangea
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Rain Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Specimen