Hydrangea (/ha?'dre?nd?i?/;common labels hydrangea or hortensia) is a genus of 70-75 species of flowering crops native to southern and eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and the Americas. Probably the greatest species diversity is at eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea. Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters high, however, many are small trees and shrubs, among others lianas reaching up to 30 m (98 foot) by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the extensively cultivated temperate types are deciduous.Having been introduced to the Azores, H. macrophylla is currently very common, on Faial particularly, which is known as the "blue island" due to the multitude of hydrangeas present on the island.Life cycleHydrangea blooms are created from planting season to late fall months; they grow in flowerheads (corymbs or panicles) frequently at the ends of the stems.
Typically the flowerheads contain two types of blooms: small non-showy blooms in the center or interior of the flowerhead, and large, showy blooms with large bright colored sepals (tepals). These showy bouquets are extended in a band often, or to the surface of the small flowers. Plant life in untamed populations typically have few to nothing of the showy blossoms, while cultivated hydrangeas have been picked and bred to have more of the bigger type bouquets.There are two flower arrangements in hydrangeas with Corymb style inflorescens, which include the commonly grown "bigleaf hydrangea"--Hydrangea macrophylla. Mophead bouquets are large rounded flowerheads resembling pom-poms or, as the name means, the relative brain of a mop. On the other hand, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flowerheads with a center core of subdued, small plants bounded by outer wedding rings of greater blooms having showy tepals or sepals.
The bouquets of some viburnums and rhododendrons can show up, at first glance, just like those of some hydrangeas.Colors and soil acidityIn most species the plants are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark crimson. In these types the color is influenced by the existence of metal ions which are available or tied up depending upon the land pH. 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 aluminum ions and produce flowers that are blue to purple typically, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will tie up aluminum ions and cause pink or red flowers.
This is the effect of a color change of the flower pigments in the existence of aluminium ions which may be adopted into hyperaccumulating plant life.[6] Decreasing the pH of potting soils or mixes usually will not change the flower color to blue, because these soils haven't any aluminum ions. The capability to blue or green a hydrangea is affected by the cultivar also. Some plants are selected for their ability to be blued, while others are bred and selected to be red, pink or white. The flower color of all other Hydrangea species is not afflicted by aluminum and can't be changed or shifted. Hydrangeas also have a nickname called 'Change Rose'.
Hydrangea Incrediball Blush. Credit: Proven Winners/ColorChoice
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