Hydrangea (/ha?'dre?nd?i?/;common titles hydrangea or hortensia) is a genus of 70-75 varieties of flowering plants local to southern and eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and the Americas. Probably the greatest varieties diversity is within eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea. The majority are shrubs 1 to 3 meters large, however, many are small trees and shrubs, while others lianas reaching up to 30 m (98 ft) by climbing up trees. They can be either evergreen or deciduous, though the cultivated temperate varieties are all deciduous generally.Having been introduced to the Azores, H. macrophylla is very common now, on Faial particularly, which is known as the "blue island" because of the vast number of hydrangeas present on the island.Life cycleHydrangea blooms are produced from planting season to late fall; they expand in flowerheads (corymbs or panicles) frequently at the ends of the stems.
Typically the flowerheads contain two types of blossoms: small non-showy plants in the guts or interior of the flowerhead, and large, showy bouquets with large bright colored sepals (tepals). These showy flowers are long in a wedding ring often, or to the surface of the tiny flowers. Crops in wild populations have few to none of them of the showy bouquets typically, while cultivated hydrangeas have been bred and chosen to have more of the bigger type bouquets.There are two flower arrangements in hydrangeas with Corymb style inflorescens, which includes the commonly grown "bigleaf hydrangea"--Hydrangea macrophylla. Mophead plants are large rounded flowerheads resembling pom-poms or, as the name suggests, the comparative brain of your mop. On the other hand, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flowerheads with a center core of subdued, small flowers surrounded by outer rings of larger flowers having showy sepals or tepals.
The bouquets of some rhododendrons and viburnums can show up, initially, much like those of some hydrangeas.Colors and ground acidityIn most types the plants are white, but in some types (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, red, light crimson, or dark crimson. In these types the color is influenced by the existence of aluminium ions which are available or tied up depending upon the land pH. For H. h and macrophylla. serrata cultivars, the flower color can be dependant on the relative acidity of the soil: an acidic soil (pH below 7), will supply aluminum ions and produce flowers that are blue to purple typically, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will tie up aluminum ions and lead to pink or red flowers.
This is the effect of a color change of the bloom pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which may be taken up into hyperaccumulating vegetation.[6] Cutting down the pH of potting soils or mixes usually does not change the rose color to blue, because these soils have no aluminum ions. The capability to blue or green a hydrangea is affected by the cultivar also. Some plants are selected for his or her 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 influenced by aluminum and can't be changed or shifted. Hydrangeas likewise have a nickname called 'Change Rose'.
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Hydrangea serrata Flower 27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London
Hydrangea Hydrangea sikokiana
Hydrangea (/haɪˈdreɪndʒiə/;common names hydrangea or hortensia) is a genus of 70–75 species of flowering plants 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. Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m (98 ft) by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.Having been introduced to the Azores, H. macrophylla is now very common, particularly on Faial, which is known as the "blue island" due to the vast number of hydrangeas present on the island.Life cycleHydrangea flowers are produced from early spring to late autumn; they grow in flowerheads (corymbs or panicles) most often at the ends of the stems. Typically the flowerheads contain two types of flowers: small non-showy flowers in the center or interior of the flowerhead, and large, showy flowers with large colorful sepals (tepals). These showy flowers are often extended in a ring, or to the exterior of the small flowers. Plants in wild populations typically have few to none of the showy flowers, while cultivated hydrangeas have been bred and selected to have more of the larger type flowers.There are two flower arrangements in hydrangeas with Corymb style inflorescens, which includes the commonly grown "bigleaf hydrangea"—Hydrangea macrophylla. Mophead flowers are large round flowerheads resembling pom-poms or, as the name implies, the head of a mop. In contrast, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flowerheads with a center core of subdued, small flowers surrounded by outer rings of larger flowers having showy sepals or tepals. The flowers of some rhododendrons and viburnums can appear, at first glance, similar to those of some hydrangeas.Colors and soil acidityIn most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In these species the color is affected by the presence of aluminum ions which are available or tied up depending upon the soil 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 typically produce flowers that are blue to purple, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will tie up aluminum ions and result in pink or red flowers. This is caused by a color change of the flower pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up into hyperaccumulating plants.[6] Lowering the pH of potting soils or mixes usually does not change the flower color to blue, because these soils have no aluminum ions. The ability to blue or pink a hydrangea is also influenced by the cultivar. 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 most other Hydrangea species is not affected by aluminum and cannot be changed or shifted. Hydrangeas also have a nickname called 'Change Rose'.
Hydrangea (/haɪˈdreɪndʒiə/;common names hydrangea or hortensia) is a genus of 70–75 species of flowering plants 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. Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m (98 ft) by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.Having been introduced to the Azores, H. macrophylla is now very common, particularly on Faial, which is known as the "blue island" due to the vast number of hydrangeas present on the island.Life cycleHydrangea flowers are produced from early spring to late autumn; they grow in flowerheads (corymbs or panicles) most often at the ends of the stems. Typically the flowerheads contain two types of flowers: small non-showy flowers in the center or interior of the flowerhead, and large, showy flowers with large colorful sepals (tepals). These showy flowers are often extended in a ring, or to the exterior of the small flowers. Plants in wild populations typically have few to none of the showy flowers, while cultivated hydrangeas have been bred and selected to have more of the larger type flowers.There are two flower arrangements in hydrangeas with Corymb style inflorescens, which includes the commonly grown "bigleaf hydrangea"—Hydrangea macrophylla. Mophead flowers are large round flowerheads resembling pom-poms or, as the name implies, the head of a mop. In contrast, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flowerheads with a center core of subdued, small flowers surrounded by outer rings of larger flowers having showy sepals or tepals. The flowers of some rhododendrons and viburnums can appear, at first glance, similar to those of some hydrangeas.Colors and soil acidityIn most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In these species the color is affected by the presence of aluminum ions which are available or tied up depending upon the soil 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 typically produce flowers that are blue to purple, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will tie up aluminum ions and result in pink or red flowers. This is caused by a color change of the flower pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up into hyperaccumulating plants.[6] Lowering the pH of potting soils or mixes usually does not change the flower color to blue, because these soils have no aluminum ions. The ability to blue or pink a hydrangea is also influenced by the cultivar. 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 most other Hydrangea species is not affected by aluminum and cannot be changed or shifted. Hydrangeas also have a nickname called 'Change Rose'.
