Hydrangea macrophylla
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| ?Hydrangea macrophylla | ||||||||||||||
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 A Bigleaf Hydrangea
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| Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. |
Hydrangea macrophylla is a species of Hydrangea native to Japan. Common names include Bigleaf Hydrangea, French Hydrangea, Lacecap Hydrangea, Mophead Hydrangea, Penny Mac and Hortensia.
It is a deciduous shrub, growing 1-3 m tall. The leaves are opposite, simple ovoid-acute, 7-20 cm long, with a coarsely toothed margin. Its flowers are pink, white, or blue, depending partly on soil pH. In acid soils the flowers will be blue, in alkaline soils the flowers will be pink, and in neutral soil the flowers will be white [1].
[edit] Cultivation and uses
Hydrangea macrophylla has been cultivated for many years as an ornamental plant in Japan, and in the last 150 years, also extensively in other areas of the world with a temperate climate. Over 600 cultivars have been selected for garden use, varying in flower colour. Gardeners can often control the flower colour by adding lime or aluminium sulfate to alter the acidity level around the plant. These flowers can also be rainbow colored when NA2CO3 is carefully poured into the soil.
Some popular Hydrangea cultivars include:
- 'Beaute Vendomoise' (giant lacecap)
- 'Blue Bonnet'
- 'Blue Wave'
- 'Bluebird'
- 'Endless Summer' (perpetual bloomer)
- 'Forever Pink'
- 'Lilicana'
- 'Nikko Blue'
- 'Pia' (dwarf)
- 'Sister Theresa'
- 'Veitchii'
Hydrangea tea, called ama-cha in Japan, is an infusion beverage made from tea leaves and hydrangea petals.
 Bigleaf hydrangea |
 Bigleaf hydrangea |
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