Hydrangea
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The hydrangea gathers dozens of tiny florets, each only a few millimetres across, into one great rounded sphere. A single head reaches well beyond an adult palm and carries such generous volume that a handful of stems fills a bouquet at once, making it a dependable main flower for a lush arrangement. What we take for petals are in fact modified sepals, which is why the head resists wilting and holds its form for a long time. Native to East Asia, it grows in the humid climates of Korea, Japan and China, and its most famous mystery is the way its colour shifts with the acidity of the soil — blue in acidic ground, pink in alkaline, so that even the same shrub changes its hue from year to year. It is remarkably fond of water: its Korean name is written with the character for water, and the Western name hydrangea likewise comes from the Greek for a vessel that holds water. Its season is early summer, around the rainy weeks of June, when clusters of hydrangea blooming damp beneath grey skies become the very picture of that time of year.
The story of its meaning
The Blue Hydrangea means "Heartfelt sincerity". The hydrangea once carried the rather unkind meaning of fickleness, given the ease with which its colour changes with the soil. Yet from the sight of it holding its head high and blooming steadily even through a rainy season that will not end, many people today read instead an unwavering sincerity — and so the flower has stepped past that old negative meaning to earn the "Heartfelt sincerity" that is far more loved now. Its very form, small florets leaning on one another to build a single large bloom, reads like the devotion of many hearts gathering into one, and lends that meaning still more weight. The Pink Hydrangea means "A girl's dream", for its rosy blush calls to mind a young, fluttering heart full of anticipation. The White Hydrangea means "A generous heart", its gentle white — a white that could take on any colour — likened to an openness that embraces everyone. That the same shrub can hold such differently grained stories once its colour shifts is part of why the hydrangea has been loved for so long.
Meanings by color
- Blue HydrangeaHeartfelt sincerity
- Pink HydrangeaA girl's dream
- White HydrangeaA generous heart
When to gift it
The hydrangea suits the moments where the heart comes before the words. The Blue Hydrangea, carrying "Heartfelt sincerity", is a fine thing to hand to parents or a teacher you owe deep thanks, or to someone who has stayed by your side for years. Its colour is splendid without ever being loud, so it conveys the feeling without strain even at careful occasions such as a consoling visit or a call at the hospital. The Pink Hydrangea, true to its meaning of "A girl's dream", suits a daughter or a young friend, someone standing at an exciting new beginning, while the White Hydrangea and its "A generous heart" sit easily across occasions of both congratulation and thanks. Above all, a single head holds so much volume that a few stems make a generous bouquet, which more than earns its keep when you want a gift that carries the early-summer season. It is loved just as widely as a decorative flower that brings a cool freshness to a wedding or a summer party.
Pairing tips
The hydrangea is a large, generously full main flower, so one or two heads are enough to hold the centre of a bouquet firmly in place. Because its presence is so strong, it is best set among light companions: for a Blue Hydrangea, add cool-toned fillers of the same temper, such as Delphinium and Agapanthus, to finish a crisp summer bouquet. Keep a White Hydrangea pure by using greenery sparingly, or set it beside White Roses and Lisianthus for a wedding-style elegance, and pair a Pink Hydrangea with Sweet Pea or pale pink Ranunculus for a soft gradation. Backing it generously with fine-leaved greenery like Eucalyptus and leaving a little room keeps all that volume, which can otherwise clump together, looking well tidied. One caution: the hydrangea is exceedingly thirsty, so cut the stems on a slant and let them drink their fill before arranging, or the heads will droop — with just a little care in the handling, you can enjoy its fullness for a long while.