Here is something that sounds impossible but is entirely true: you can take a hydrangea plant, move it from acid soil to alkaline soil, and it will change colour. The same plant, different earth — blue blooms become pink. Pink become blue. The flower is, in the most literal sense, a product of the ground it stands in.
Hydrangeas are native to Japan, where contemporary florists use the pink variety to represent genuine emotion — its rounded clusters of florets resemble, they say, a beating heart. Japanese Buddhists brew the leaves of one species into a sweet tea used to cleanse Buddha statues in an annual purification ritual. It is a flower with a long history of being used for things that matter.
In a vase, hydrangeas are magnificent. Their great pompom heads provide a volume and richness that few other flowers match — and they drink deeply, so keep the water generous. Pink says
heartfelt emotion and gratitude. Blue says
sincerity and calm understanding. White says
grace and a wish for new beginnings.
They are particularly extraordinary in wedding arrangements. If you are looking for volume, drama, and something that photographs beautifully, hydrangea is your answer.
Best wishes, James Hunt MD
Any questions about this flower? Email
enquiries@flowersbyflourish.com — we love to talk about flowers.
Best wishes, James Hunt MD
