I don't think of this plant as an important nectar or host plant, but it's important to have a variety of shrubs in your landscape. This is a perfect plant for cover and protection, for example. You WERE blessed. What a wonderful plant this is.

Maybe someone will be able to comment on the status of Oak Leaf Hydrangea for butterflies.

I wish I COULD comment - I've tried a few, and they never thrive. I've got one little pitiful one, and it's never bloomed and no moths have laid eggs on it, although there are several types of sphinx moth that reportely use hydrangeas. I don't know if these sphinx moths use oak leaf hydrangeas or not, though - their leaves are a bit rough, and most butterflies and moths don't like tough leaves. I'd guess that h. arborea would be the more likely type of hydrangea they'd use.
Since mine has never bloomed, I don't know if the flowers would be used for nectar. They're beautiful plants, Dianne, so why don't you plant them and report back if you get any nectaring and/or egg-laying on them? We'd love to hear!
MissSherry

I am really proud of these plants. I had been wanting one and a hummingbird friend gave them to me for sharing plants with her. I have read they can grow under almost any condition in my area.

I've never noticed anything bothering or utilizing mine and I've had it for 8 years now.

However, it is one of THE best shade garden hydrangeas, not as demanding as the macrophyllas, and just bloom their hearts out in late spring. I leave the blooms up until fall, because they emerge white, then turn a dusky pink. The foliage is gorgeous and turns red in fall. The stems provide winter interest because the bark is a cinnamon color and peels, so it's very striking. I wouldn't be without this plant in the shade garden - EVER! The birds love it for landing pads and cover, so it is a valuable wildlife plant. You're very lucky to get it. It tolerates the heat (in my zone anyway), doesn't necessarily require acidic soil like some hydrangeas do, altho I usually top dress mine with manure in spring just to enrich the soil.

BTW - mine is about 7' tall and that wide. They grow relatively fast and are quite undemanding.

Susan

We have one that is about 6 years old that we bought while on vacation in North Carolina. It is planted in an area that is shaded by a large oak tree and protected also by a tall wooden fence that seperates our yard from a neighors. It withstands the cold, does lose it leaves but comes back each spring. It is getting ready to bloom now. It is probably 7 ft tall now, but not very full. We probably should have done some shaping to it when younger.

I have never seen any butterflies hanging around it. They fly all around my yard but I don't think it offers any specific value to them as a host or nectar.

I still love it and the one thing I remember the guy we bought it from saying is that you generally see them in nature on the border bertween a heavily wooded area and a grassy area, if that helps.

Thank all of you. I ended up with three. I have them planted and watered. They will not be getting too much shade so I hope the do well.

The only thing about shaping them, is to do it after they flower, so they can put on new growth between now and fall when they drop their leaves. If you prune in spring, you'll be pruning off that year's bloom - they bloom on old wood.

Susan