Flower Feature: Hydrangeas

If you want to add drama and depth to a garden or flower arrangement, hydrangeas will answer the call. These tall flowers have generous globes of tiny flowers that come in a variety of colors like white, orange, red, pink, blue, and multi-colored combinations. Hydrangeas bloom in the spring and summer, sprouting from shrubs that can grow up to 15 feet in height.

Gardeners enjoy how easy this plant is to care for and its unique role in providing a lush colorful backdrop to any landscape. These blooms are also a favorite in bouquets for their bursts of color and volume that make arrangements look extraordinary. Want to know more? Here are a few facts about these beautiful flowers.

Hydrangea Growth

Hydrangeas are perennials, which means that they can bloom year after year when planted in a garden. Their flowers start in spring and can remain in bloom throughout summer into early fall. However, they may stop blooming during particularly hot summers but then rebloom when the weather cools in the fall. Or, the flower stalks may wilt during the heat of the day then recover at night when the temperatures fall.

Overall, hydrangeas thrive in well-watered soil and moderate temperatures. The results are the best when they are watered in the morning and when the soil is topped with mulch. It also helps to have soil with high organic content. Gardeners and florists enjoy this flower because it’s a good cornerstone plant and it produces flowers yearly, making it a good investment for little effort. They don’t need to be pruned much — unless you desire a certain shape for your hydrangea shrub. But be careful- this flower doesn’t produce a lot of seeds, so be sure to get as many as you can find after the flowers have done their work!

The Meaning of Hydrangeas

The name “hydrangea” comes from two Greek words: hydros (water) and angos (jar). This refers to the flower’s need for plenty of water. In gardens, hydrangeas need 1 inch of rain per week during their growing season and then deep watering three times a week. In a vase, you must pay careful attention to the water levels to make sure the flowers are getting enough hydration.

Hydrangeas symbolize thankfulness, beauty, abundance, and grace. They may also represent love and peace depending on the colors you choose. They are also the traditional flower for 4th wedding anniversaries because they express deep gratitude to a partner. The tiny blooms that stick together represent unity, which is a fitting meaning for celebrating four years together. A good example of an impressive 4th-anniversary arrangement is the Sapphire, a striking bouquet of blue and white hydrangeas in an artful blue square vase.

When it comes to hydrangea selection, you can pick a variety of colors to communicate your feelings. Purple expresses a desire to understand a person, while pink symbolizes deep affections. White hydrangeas typically symbolize pride or boasting, so they are excellent congratulatory flowers. Blue hydrangeas are among the most common colors, and it symbolizes deep gratitude and understanding.

Find Hydrangeas & More

Whether you need a gorgeous bouquet with hydrangeas or want to start your own garden with this beautiful flowering shrub, Plantshed has everything you need.