The bark of oakleaf hydrangea exfoliates and is very beautiful. The leaves turn a variety of vivid colors prior to dropping in winter. Based on the description on the herbarium sheet, the Florida Atlas documentation for Aachua County appears to be a plants or plants persisting at an old home site. Specimen shrub in understory settings.  Also suited to mass plantings. May be short-lived and need more TLC when planted south of its native range.

Many cultivars have been developed or found in the wild ranging from weeping forms to little round balls ('Shillings'). To get fruits, both a male and a female are required. Although there are issues with provenance, 'Shillings' is a male and can provide an inconspicuous source of pollen for larger females. The issue (with no scientifically vetted answer) is whether pollen from a natural dwarf could have any affect on wild populations of yaupon holly (the author suspects 'no' as being dwarf is unlikely to provide any selective advantage in the wild. Specimen tree.