Blooming Plant of
(hy-DRAN-jee-a mac-ro-FY-la )
Hydrangeas are popular
blooming plants grown for their small, star-shaped flowers,
which are packed closely together to form rounded or pyramidal
heads that are often up to 6 inches across. The showy parts of
the flowers are sepals, not petals. The major group of Hydrangea
macrophyllas, “hortensias,” have “mophead” flowerheads, with
densely massed sterile florets. A smaller group are the “lacecaps,”
with a ring of sterile florets surrounding tiny fertile flowers.
Hydrangeas are available in white, pink, blue, lilac, green and
red/brown. The color of Hydrangeas can be controlled sometimes
by additives to the soil. Flowers are blue if grown in acidic
soil and pink if the soil is near neutral. The color of white
flowers can’t be changed. Many new varieties are bred for their
color and cannot be changed.
Hydrangea plants will remain in bloom for several weeks, with
each flower head lasting from 15 to 20 days, depending on
location and care.
Hydrangea plants are readily available during the spring
holidays—Easter through Mother’s Day. They can be purchased
year-round in many areas.
1 Upon arrival, remove the plants from the shipping boxes by grasping their protective sleeves and lifting the plants out.
2 Carefully remove each sleeve by tearing upward along the seam upward from the bottom.
3 Inspect plant variety, size, color, and quality.
4 Remove any damaged stems, leaves, and blooms.
5 Inspect each plant for disease or damage. Isolate diseased or damaged plants, and report them to the grower or buying office immediately.
6 Determine water needs by pressing a finger into the soil or testing with a moisture meter.
7 Water each plant, as necessary, with room-temperature water, and allow excess water to drain from each pot.
8 Dress plants with decorative pot covers,
foil/cellophane treatments, ribbon, and/or picks; price them;
and place them into your displays.
Hydrangeas require high light levels of 200
foot-candles to do well indoors. A sunny window is the best
location, but avoid direct sun, which will fade or burn the
Hydrangeas can be stored in floral refrigerators at 35 F for up
to four days. Storage for longer periods may affect shelf life.
Do not allow Hydrangea plants to dry out because wilting will
reduce longevity. Submerge the pots in room-temperature water
until completely saturated, then allow to stand until all
dripping has stopped. Do not allow the plants to remain in
standing water, or root rot may result.
Hydrangeas like cool temperatures. Move the plants to a cool
area at night (50 F to 60 F), to increase the lasting quality.
Hydrangeas may exhibit flower shattering when exposed to
ethylene gas. Anti-ethylene products can be applied at the
grower level; consult with your supplier about whether this has
Snails, slugs and aphids are the most common pests on
Hydrangea plants are ready for shipping and/or sales when at
least 75 percent of the flowers are open and showing color.
When plants arrive, check for signs of wilt, rot or mold.
After the plants have finished flowering, advise customers to
move the pots outside and plant them into the ground where they
get full morning sun and light shade during the afternoon. They
should water the plants regularly and fertilize them with a
liquid fertilizer about every two weeks. For extra large flower
heads, tell customers to allow only about three stems to
develop. They should remove extra shoots from the centers of the
plants and lift the pots occasionally to keep roots in the pots.
To rebloom Hydrangeas indoors, tell customers to cut back the
shoots after plants have finished flowering so that two nodes or
pairs of leaves are left on each shoot. They should repot plants
in a mixture of equal parts of soil and peat moss. Advise
customers to grow plants in south-facing windows.
If large amounts of Hydrangea bark, leaves or flower buds are
ingested, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and sweating may occur.
Hydrangea comes from the Greek words “hydro” (water) and “aggos”
(jar). The name refers to the fruits of the plant, which are cup
shaped, and to its requirement for lots of water. The name
“macrophylla” means large leafed.
Formerly included in the Saxifragaceae (saxifrage) family,
Hydrangeas have been reclassified into the Hydrangeaceae family.
There are 17 genera, 170 species and more than 400 cultivars of
Hydrangeas. Relatives include Astilbe and Viburnum.
Hydrangeas are native to Japan and Korea as well as the eastern
United States as far south as Florida. They thrive in woodlands
and on riverbanks.
Hydrangea heads and florets are great for pressing, freeze
drying or air drying.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology lists
Hydrangea as an allergy-safe pollen-producing plant.
You can reach “Blooming Plant
of the Month” writer Steven W. Brown, AIFD,
or by phone (415) 239-3140.
Images courtesy of Bay City
Flower Company, Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Some information provided by:
Bay City Flower Company, Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Chain of Life NetworkÆ,
SAF’s Flower & Plant Care manual
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