Fluffy, balls of loveliness. Fresh or dried. En-masse or mixed with other blooms. We heart hydrangeas.
Currently in season, we felt it appropriate to dedicate an ode to one of our favourite flowers. Hydrangeas flower from early Spring to late Autumn. They bloom in a varying array of colours ranging from soft pastel blue, pink, mauve and green, to vibrant cornflower blue, deep purple and rose pink, to pure white.
And understandably, brides around the world can’t get enough of them.
Read on for a few interesting facts about our favourite fluffy balls of loveliness…
Although hydrangeas conjure an image of an ‘English cottage garden’, the hydrangea is actually native to southern and eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and the Americas. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea. (1)
The ‘mophead’ is a globe shaped flower cluster, the most commonly recognized form of Hydrangea bloom. The ‘panicle’ presents a long, somewhat cone-shaped flower; and the ‘lacecap’ is a flattened cluster of what appear to be tiny, immature buds surrounded at the edges by four to five petal flowers. (2)
White blooms will always be white. And it is much easier to change a hydrangea from pink to blue than it is from blue to pink. Changing a hydrangea from pink to blue entails adding aluminum to the soil. Changing from blue to pink means subtracting aluminum from the soil or taking it out of reach of the hydrangea. Managing the pH of soil will have an impact on the colour of your hydrangea blooms.
You can have the most control over the color of your hydrangeas when grown in pots, as it is much easier to control or alter the pH of the soil in a container than it is in the ground. (3)
Although some forms of hydrangea are toxic, certain teas can be made from specific species of hydrangea which can offer various benefits for those that drink it. This tea is sweet in flavor and usually made from the root of the hydrangea plant. (4)
To celebrate our beloved hydrangea, we have created a Pinterest inspiration board called ‘We Heart Hydrangea’. Check out some of our favourite pics below (yum, yum, yum!)
Flowers for Everyone’s dedicated bridal flower studio in Sydney, BridesinBloom, can create a beautiful hydrangea inspired wedding. Contact our Bridal Flower Manager, Megan, by email megan@bridesinbloom.com.au or on 02 8746 0800 for a free quote.
References
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea
2. http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowersandseasons/hydrangea
