Hydrangea Kwangsiensis
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''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a
genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of more than 70 species of
flowering plants Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...
to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the
common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...
for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The genus was first described from Virginia in North America, but by far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Korea, and Japan. Most are
shrubs A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...
tall, but some are small
tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...
s, and others
liana A liana is a long-Plant stem, stemmed Woody plant, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the Canopy (biology), canopy in search of direct sunlight. T ...
s reaching up to by climbing up trees. They can be either
deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
or
evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...
, though the widely cultivated
temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...
species are all deciduous. The flowers of many hydrangeas act as natural
pH indicator A pH indicator is a halochromism, halochromic chemical compound added in small amounts to a Solution (chemistry), solution so the pH (acidity or Base (chemistry), basicity) of the solution can be determined visually or spectroscopically by chang ...
s, producing blue flowers when the soil is acidic and pink ones when the soil is alkaline.


Etymology

''Hydrangea'' is derived from
Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
and means 'water vessel' (from ''húdōr'' "water" + ''ángos'' or ''angeîon'' "vessel"), in reference to the shape of its seed capsules. The earlier name, ''Hortensia'', is a Latinised version of the French given name Hortense, honoring the French astronomer and mathematician Nicole-Reine Hortense Lepaute.
Philibert Commerson Philibert Commerson (; 18 November 1727 – 14 March 1773), sometimes spelled Commerçon by contemporaries, was a French naturalist, best known for accompanying Louis Antoine de Bougainville on his voyage of circumnavigation in 1766–1769. ...
attempted to name the flower ''Lepautia'' or ''Peautia'' after Lepaute. However, the flower's accepted name later became ''Hortensia''. This led to people believing Lepaute's name was Hortense, but the Larousse remarks that this is erroneous, and that the name probably came from ''hortus'', garden.


Life cycle

''Hydrangea''
flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...
s are produced from early spring to late autumn; they grow in flowerheads (
corymb Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial re ...
s or
panicle In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...
s) most often at the ends of the stems. Typically the flowerheads contain two types of flowers: small non-showy fertile flowers in the center or interior of the flowerhead, and large, sterile showy flowers with large colorful
sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...
s (tepals). These showy flowers are often extended in a ring, or to the exterior of the small flowers. Plants in wild populations typically have few to none of the showy flowers, while cultivated hydrangeas have been bred and selected to have more of the larger type flowers. There are two flower arrangements in hydrangeas with
corymb Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial re ...
style inflorescences, which includes the commonly grown "bigleaf hydrangea"—''Hydrangea macrophylla''. Mophead flowers are large round flowerheads resembling pom-poms or, as the name implies, the head of a mop. In contrast, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flowerheads with a center core of subdued, small flowers surrounded by outer rings of larger flowers having showy sepals or tepals. The flowers of some
rhododendron ''Rhododendron'' (; : ''rhododendra'') is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the Ericaceae, heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are native to eastern Asia and the Himalayan ...
s and
viburnum ''Viburnum'' is a genus of about 150–175 species of flowering plants in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny. It was previously included in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. The memb ...
s can appear, at first glance, similar to those of some hydrangeas.


Colors and soil acidity

Hydrangea flower color can change based on the pH in soil. As the graph depicts, soil with a pH of 5.5 or lower will produce blue flowers, a pH of 6.5 or higher will produce pink hydrangeas, and soil in between 5.5 and 6.5 will have purple hydrangeas. White hydrangeas cannot be color-manipulated by soil pH because they do not produce pigment for color. In other words, while the hue of the inflorescence is variable dependent upon cultural factors, the color saturation is genetically predetermined. In most species, the flowers are
white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
. In some, however, (notably ''H. macrophylla''), they can be blue, red, or purple, with color saturation levels ranging from the palest of pinks, lavenders & powder blues, to deep, rich purples, reds, and royal blues. In these species,
floral color change Floral color change occurs in flowers in a wide range of angiosperm taxa that undergo a color change associated with their age, or after successful pollination. History The first written record of the term ''floral color change'' was in 1877 wh ...
occurs due to the availability of
aluminium Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...
ion An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convent ...
s, a variable which itself depends upon the
soil pH Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of a soil. Soil pH is a key characteristic that can be used to make informative analysis both qualitative and quantitatively regarding soil characteristics. pH is defined as the neg ...
. For ''H. macrophylla'' and ''H. serrata'' cultivars, the flower color can be determined by the relative acidity of the soil: an acidic soil (pH below 7), will have available aluminium ions and typically produce flowers that are blue to purple, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will tie up aluminium ions and result in pink or red flowers. This is caused by a color change of the
flower pigment A biological pigment, also known simply as a pigment or biochrome, is a substance produced by living organisms that have a color resulting from selective color absorption. Biological pigments include plant pigments and flower pigments. Many biol ...
s in the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up into hyperaccumulating plants.


Species

97 species are accepted. *''
Hydrangea acuminata ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of Flowering plant, flowering plants native plant, native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly ''Hydrangea macrophylla, H. m ...
'' *''
Hydrangea albostellata ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea alternifolia ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *'' Hydrangea × amagiana'' *''
Hydrangea amamiohsimensis ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea ampla ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea anomala ''Hydrangea anomala'', the Japanese climbing-hydrangea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae native to the woodlands of the Himalaya, southern and central China and northern Myanmar. It is a woody climbing plant, growing t ...
'' – (climbing hydrangea) Himalaya, southwest China *''
Hydrangea arborescens ''Hydrangea arborescens'', commonly known as smooth hydrangea or sevenbark, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae. It is a small- to medium-sized, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub up to tall that is native to the eastern Uni ...
'' – (smooth hydrangea) eastern North America *''
Hydrangea arguta ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea aspera ''Hydrangea aspera'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae native to dense forests in the region between the Himalayas, across southern China, to Taiwan. It is a large, erect deciduous shrub growing to tall and wide, with br ...
'' – China, Himalaya *''
Hydrangea asterolasia ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea barbara ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea bifida ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea breedlovei ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea bretschneideri ''Hydrangea bretschneideri'' (Mongolian hydrangea) is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to most of China. ''Hydrangea bretschneideri'' is a sturdy, bushy, deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, th ...
'' – China *''
Hydrangea caerulea ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of Flowering plant, flowering plants native plant, native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly ''Hydrangea macrophylla, H. m ...
'' *''
Hydrangea carroniae ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *'' Hydrangea chungii'' – China *''
Hydrangea cinerea ''Hydrangea cinerea'', the ashy hydrangea or gray hydrangea, is a small to medium sized, deciduous shrub up to 3 m tall; its natural range is interior regions of the southeastern United States.Lance, Ron. 2004 Woody Plants of the southeastern Uni ...
'' – (ashy hydrangea) eastern United States *'' Hydrangea coenobialis'' – China *''
Hydrangea corylifolia ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea crassa ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea daimingshanensis ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea davidii ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' – China *''
Hydrangea densifolia ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea diplostemona ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea fauriei ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea febrifuga ''Hydrangea febrifuga'' is a flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae. It is a subshrub or shrub native to central and southern China, Indochina, Malesia, and New Guinea. National names * Chinese: ) * Indonesian language: ''gigil'', alternat ...
'' (syn. ''Dichroa febrifuga'') – central & southern China to Malesia and New Guinea *''
Hydrangea glaucescens ''Hydrangea glaucescens'', the Chinese hydrangea vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family of Hydrangeaceae, native to southern China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Through its synonym ''Schizophragma integrifolium,'' it has gained the Royal Ho ...
'' – China, Myanmar and Vietnam *'' Hydrangea gracilis'' – China *'' Hydrangea heteromalla'' – Himalaya, west and north China *''
Hydrangea hirsuta ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea hirta ''Hydrangea hirta'', also known as the nettle-leaved hydrangea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae that is native to East Asia. Due to the beauty and sturdiness of the species' flowers it can be found outside of its range ...
'' – Japan *''
Hydrangea hwangii ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea hydrangeoides ''Hydrangea hydrangeoides'', the Japanese hydrangea vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to Ulleungdo Island of South Korea, Japan, and the southern Kuril Islands. Etymology The specific epithet ''hydrangeoi ...
'' –
Ulleungdo Ulleungdo (), also spelled Ulreungdo, is a South Korean island east of the Korean Peninsula in the Sea of Japan. It was formerly known as Dagelet Island or Argonaut Island in Europe. Volcanic in origin, the rocky steep-sided island is the top o ...
, Japan, Kurils *'' Hydrangea hypoglauca'' – China *''
Hydrangea integrifolia ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' – China *''
Hydrangea involucrata ''Hydrangea involucrata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to Japan and Taiwan.Pages 67-69; ''Hydrangeas for American Gardens'' by Michael Dirr. Timber Press, 2004. /. It is a deciduous shrub growing to tall ...
'' – Japan, Taiwan *'' Hydrangea jelskii'' – Andes *'' Hydrangea kawagoeana'' *'' Hydrangea kwangsiensis'' – China *''
Hydrangea kwangtungensis ''Hydrangea kwangtungensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceedin ...
'' – China *''
Hydrangea lalashanensis ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea lingii ''Hydrangea lingii'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae Hydrangeaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Cornales, with a wide distribution in Asia and North America, and locally in southeastern Europe. Des ...
'' – China *'' Hydrangea linkweiensis'' – China *''
Hydrangea liukiuensis ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *''
Hydrangea lobbii ''Hydrangea'' ( or ) is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. Hydrangea is also used as the common name for the genus; some (particularly '' H. macrophylla'') are also often called hortensia. The ge ...
'' *'' Hydrangea longifolia'' – China *''Hydrangea longipes'' – western China *''Hydrangea luteovenosa'' *''Hydrangea macrocarpa'' – China *''Hydrangea macrophylla'' – (bigleaf hydrangea) southeast Japan, southern China *''Hydrangea mangshanensis'' – China *''Hydrangea marunoi'' *''Hydrangea mathewsii'' *''Hydrangea megalocarpa'' *''Hydrangea minamitanii'' *''Hydrangea × mizushimarum'' *''Hydrangea moellendorffii'' *''Hydrangea mollissima'' *''Hydrangea nahaensis'' *''Hydrangea nebulicola'' *''Hydrangea obtusifolia'' *''Hydrangea ofeliae'' *''Hydrangea otontepecensis'' *''Hydrangea paniculata'' – (panicled hydrangea) eastern China, Japan, Korea, Sakhalin *''Hydrangea peruviana'' – Costa Rica and Panama, Andes *''Hydrangea petiolaris'' – (climbing hydrangea) Japan, Korea, Sakhalin *''Hydrangea pingtungensis'' *''Hydrangea platyarguta'' *''Hydrangea pottingeri'' (synonym ''Hydrangea chinensis'' ) – Arunachal Pradesh, Myanmar, southeastern China, and Taiwan *''Hydrangea preslii'' *''Hydrangea quercifolia'' – (oakleaf hydrangea) southeast United States *''Hydrangea radiata'' – (silverleaf hydrangea) southeast United States *''Hydrangea robusta'' – China, Himalaya *''Hydrangea sargentiana'' – western China *''Hydrangea scandens'' – southern Japan south to the Philippines *''Hydrangea serrata'' – Japan, Korea *''Hydrangea serratifolia'' – Chile, western Argentina *''Hydrangea sikokiana'' *''Hydrangea sousae'' *''Hydrangea steyermarkii'' *''Hydrangea strigosa'' – China *''Hydrangea stylosa'' – China *''Hydrangea taiwaniana'' *''Hydrangea tapalapensis'' *''Hydrangea tarapotensis'' – Andes *''Hydrangea tomentella'' *''Hydrangea × versicolor'' *''Hydrangea viburnoides'' *''Hydrangea wallichii'' *''Hydrangea xanthoneura'' – China *''Hydrangea xinfeniae'' *''Hydrangea yaoshanensis'' *''Hydrangea yayeyamensis'' *''Hydrangea × ytiensis'' *''Hydrangea yunnanensis'' *''Hydrangea zhewanensis'' – China


Fossil record

''Hydrangea alaskana'' is a fossil species recovered from Paleogene strata at Jaw Mountain Alaska. †''Hydrangea knowltoni'' has been described from leaves and flowers recovered from the Miocene Langhian Latah Formation of the inland Pacific Northwest United states. The related Miocene species †''Hydrangea bendirei'' is known to from the Mascall Formation in Oregon, and †''Hydrangea reticulata'' is documented from the Weaverville Formation in California. Four fossil seeds of †''Hydrangea polonica'' have been extracted from borehole samples of the Middle Miocene fresh water deposits in Nowy Sacz Basin, West Carpathians, Poland.


Cultivation and uses

Hydrangeas are popular ornamental plants, grown for their large flowerheads, with ''Hydrangea macrophylla'' being by far the most widely grown. It has over 600 named cultivars, many selected to have only large sterile flowers in the flowerheads. ''Hydrangea macrophylla'', also known as bigleaf hydrangea, can be broken up into two main categories; mophead hydrangea and lacecap hydrangea. Some are best pruned on an annual basis when the new leaf buds begin to appear. If not pruned regularly, the bush will become very "leggy", growing upwards until the weight of the stems is greater than their strength, at which point the stems will sag down to the ground and possibly break. Other species only flower on "old wood". Thus, new wood resulting from pruning will not produce flowers until the following season. The following cultivars and species have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit under the synonym ''Schizophragma'': *Hydrangea hydrangeoides, ''S. hydrangeoides'' var. ''concolor'' 'Moonlight' *Hydrangea hydrangeoides, ''S. hydrangeoides'' var. ''hydrangeoides'' 'Roseum' *''Hydrangea glaucescens, S. integrifolium'' Hydrangea root and rhizome are indicated for the treatment of conditions of the urinary tract in the Physicians' Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine and may have diuretic properties. Hydrangeas are moderately toxic if eaten, with all parts of the plant containing cyanogenic glycosides. ''Hydrangea paniculata'' is reportedly sometimes smoked as an intoxicant, despite the danger of illness and/or death due to the cyanide. The flowers on a hydrangea shrub can change from blue to pink or from pink to blue from one season to the next depending on the acidity level of the soil. Adding organic materials such as coffee grounds and citrus peel will increase acidity and turn hydrangea flowers blue. A popular pink hydrangea called Vanilla Strawberry has been named "Top Plant" by the American Nursery and Landscape Association. A hybrid "Runaway Bride Snow White", from Japan, won ''Plant of the Year'' at the 2018 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.


In culture

In Japan, ''Amacha, ama-cha'' (), meaning sweet tea, is another herbal tea made from ''Hydrangea serrata'', whose leaves contain a substance that develops a sweet taste (phyllodulcin). For the fullest taste, fresh leaves are crumpled, steamed, and dried, yielding dark brown tea leaves. Ama-cha is mainly used for ''kan-butsu-e'' (the Buddha bathing ceremony) on April 8 every year—the day thought to be Buddha's birthday in Japan. During the ceremony, ama-cha is poured over a statue of Buddha and served to people in attendance. A legend has it that on the day Buddha was born, nine dragons poured Amrita over him; ama-cha is substituted for Amrita in Japan. In Korean tea, ''Hydrangea serrata'' is used for an herbal tea called ''sugukcha'' () or ''isulcha'' (). The pink hydrangea has risen in popularity all over the world, especially in Asia. The given meaning of pink hydrangeas is popularly tied to the phrase "you are the beat of my heart," as described by the celebrated Korean florist Tan Jun Yong, who was quoted saying, "The light delicate blush of the petals reminds me of a beating heart, while the size could only match the heart of the sender!" ''Hydrangea quercifolia'' was declared the official state wildflower of the U.S. state of Alabama in 1999. Hydrangeas were used by the Cherokee people of what is now the Southern U.S. as a mild diuretic and cathartic; it was considered a valuable remedy for stone and gravel in the bladder. Extrafloral nectaries were reported on hydrangea species by Zimmerman 1932, but Elias 1983 regards this as "doubtful".


Gallery

File:Hortensiapink.JPG, ''Hydrangea macrophylla'' File:Hydrangea close up.jpg, Hydrangea flowers close up. File:Pink Hydrangea Flowers.jpg, Flowers File:Hydrangea-heads-pale.png, ''Hydrangea macrophylla'', flowers File:Blue Hydrangea.jpg, ''Hydrangea macrophylla'', flowers File:Hydrangea redoute.JPG, ''Hydrangea sp'' painted by the botanical artist Redouté. File:Hydrangea quericifolia2.jpg, ''Hydrangea quercifolia'' File:Hydrangea leaves.jpg, ''Hydrangea macrophylla'', leaves File:Wild hydrangea var annabelle.jpg, Wild Hydrangea v. Annabelle
''Hydrangea arborescens'' File:Hydrangea arborescens.jpg, Wild Hydrangea v. Annabelle
''Hydrangea arborescens'' File:Hydrangea arborescens annabelle.JPG, 8" Annabelle Hydrangea Bloom. ''Hydrangea arborescens''. File:Hydrangea-aspera-zoo-cgn-07074-mutante.jpg, ''Hydrangea aspera ssp. sargentiana'' File:BlueHydrangea.JPG File:Hydrangea paniculata IMG 6629.JPG, ''Hydrangea paniculata'' File:Hydranchia.JPG, Hydrangea flowers from Kerala, India File:Hydrangeas corner.JPG, Hydrangeas in front of the Office de Tourisme Building in Chartres, France File:Hydrangea-08-10-08.JPG, Hydrangea flowers at the "Cerro El Avila" National Park, Venezuela File:Hydrangeea.jpg, Hydrangea flowers, Srinagar, Kashmir, India File:Hydrangea flowers in the rain.jpg, Hydrangea flowers File:Petrópolis - Cidade das Hortências e do Russo - Nevoeiro.jpg, Hydrangea flowers in Petrópolis, Brazil File:Lagonegro3.jpg, Hydrangeas near the Black Lake of Gramado, southern Brazil File:Hydrangea-flower.jpg, Purple hydrangea flowers File:Hydrangea arborescens leaf.jpg, ''Hydrangea arborescens'' leaf File:Hydrangea summer garden.jpg File:Hydrangea flower white.jpg File:Hydrangea flower summer garden.jpg File:Wilted hydrangea.jpg File:Hydrangea flower 3.jpg, Flower of hydrangea File:Hydrangea flower 5.jpg, Flower of hydrangea File:Vein sceleton hydrangea ies.jpg, Vein structure of a hydrangea leaf File:Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea).jpg, Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea) in Calgary, Canada


Diseases


References


External links

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erowid.orgFlora of Nepal: ''Hydrangea'' species listHydrangea – selecting shrubsHydrangea species and hybridsPropagating HydrangeasRed Listing of Threatened Hydrangeas
{{Authority control Hydrangea, Cornales genera Christmas plants Asterid genera