Burgundy Oakleaf Hydrangea

this is amazing ~ i had to look twice to see if it was real!!!

That looks amazing love it:)

I am still amazed by the color on this one, I planted three of this variety this summer and the other two are just beginning to show a little color (they are in more shade). I have never seen an oakleaf hydrangea turn this color, I guess Burgundy was a good cultivar name.

It's like a bouquet of leaves!

I know, I need to think of some plants to put around them. Something with light pink flowers would look nice against that color but it won't be easy finding something to bloom this time of year

Light pink would be good I agree (even if it isn't my favourite colour)
Will nerines grow in your area?

I don't think so, winter temps can get down to -29c/-20f. Honestly I've never heard of that bulb, I had to google it and it's very pretty! From what I read it doesn't sound like it can tolerate a deep freeze.

No I think you would be right, didn't realise quite how cold it gets there - sorry.
What about asters? Although they may not be as delicate as you would like? A shorter option might be colchium? The waterlily variety is very attractive - they grow from bulbs, flower about now but no leaves till spring/summer. Time.

Asters are usually gone by this time, I'll have to look into the colchium. There are a number of perennials/bulbs I don't know a lot about since I've always focused on shrubs/trees. Sooner or later I will run out of room for that though haha. Someone pointed out to me that very few US gardeners/landscapers use shrubs for borders or entire garden areas and that's what I've been doing.

Love this one Rk...amazing colour...

i did notice that the american and canadian gardens appear to be more like single shrubs whereas we have a whole border ~ but in most of the cases i am thinking of the conditions are harsh and i would think it would be nearly impossible to keep a whole border going.
have a look at my blog called 'return to a beautiful garden' ~ there you will see a wonderful english border!!!

Excellent, I will be sure to check that out. Thank you!

Only wish it was mine but I'm not that good.

It is very pretty but I wouldn't want that kind of look, I like a more natural woodland look. When I see those pictures it makes me think of all the work and expense to achieve those results haha.

Well very true!

Rkwright, what did you finally plant around this beautiful Hydrangea?

It's going to grow into a pretty large shrub so I am going to hold off on planting anything near it until it has gotten a little larger. I have two of the Burgundy oak leaves on either side of my Paperbark maple and like the combination of orange-red fall color from the maple and the purple-red of the hydrangeas.