Hydrangea

Common Names: hydrangea, hortensia

Four-petaled flowers grow in round clusters that are usually 4 to 8 inches wide. Flowers bloom in white, lavender and pink. While the hydrangea has been a favorite in the garden or landscape for years, it has become a popular cut flower to enhance garden-style arrangements.

Hydrangeas (scientific name: Hydrangea) are relatively large and soft-stemmed "leafy" deciduous shrubs.

Hydrangeas produce flowers from early-Spring to late-Autumn; these are carried in bunches, at the ends of the stems. Each individual hydrangea flower is relatively small; however, the display of color is enhanced by a ring of modified bracts around each flower.

The flowers can be blue, red, pink, purple, or white; depending upon the acidity or alkalinity of the soil, as well as the type of Hydrangea. Gardeners can control the display by adding lime or potash to alter the alkalinity level around the plant. Acid soils produce blue flowers , neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and alkalinity creates pink or purple. Hydrangeas are one of very few plants that accumulate aluminum. Aluminum is released from acidic soils, and forms complexes in the hydrangea flower giving them their blue color.