The hydrangea has a wide range of meanings, from heartfelt emotion to gratitude to boastfulness. Each meaning stems from different cultural beliefs and stories, and can be associated to a specific color. Throughout history the hydrangea has been especially significant in Japan, where many believe the flower originated. The greatest diversity of hydrangea species exists in eastern Asia, which includes Japan, China, and Korea.
According to a Japanese legend, the flower became associated with heartfelt emotion, gratitude for understanding, and apology after a Japanese emperor gave them to the family of the girl he loved to make up for neglecting her in favor of business and show how much he cared about her. Pink hydrangeas are especially associated with genuine emotion because their shape resembles a beating heart.
However, not everyone associates hydrangeas with heartfelt emotion. Victorians considered hydrangeas a negative plant, and used it to represent boastfulness, bragging, or vanity. Hydrangeas became associated with these things because they produce magnificent flowers, but very few seeds. They were also given to people who turned down love interests as signs that they were cold or frigid.
Hydrangeas commonly come in shades of pink, blue, purple, and green. Their color, except for white hydrangeas, depends on the acidity of the soil. You can make pink hydrangeas turn blue by increasing the acidity of your soil. You can increase the acidity by adding coffee grounds, citrus peels, and crushed egg shells. The hydrangea symbolism for each individual colors is as follows:
- Pink hydrangeas symbolize heartfelt emotion.
- Blue hydrangeas symbolize frigidity and apology.
- White hydrangeas symbolize boasting or bragging.
- Purple hydrangeas symbolize a desire to deeply understand someone.
Hydrangea flowers bloom in a variety of different formations. The most popular are the mophead hydrangeas, whose flowers grow in big ball-shaped clusters. Lacecap hydrangeas, which grow well in shade, have clusters of tiny blooms accented by larger blooms. Panicle hydrangeas, which grow well in cold, have flowers that grow in cone-shaped clusters.
The name hydrangea comes from the Greek words hydros, meaning water, and angos, meaning jar, which is fitting because these plants require a lot of water. However, too much water can kill them. Signs of overwatering include wilting, yellowing leaves, leaves falling off, and stunted growth.
Though the leaves of hydrangeas are poisonous if ingested because they contain cyanogenic glycosides, which release hydrogen cyanide when chewed, the roots are used for medicinal purposes. Hydrangea root can be used as an antioxidant, and is also used to treat kidney problems.
Hydrangeas are often given on 4th wedding anniversaries to symbolize appreciation and heartfelt emotion. Because of their many meanings, hydrangeas are great for many different occasions including heartfelt moments, apologies, and thanks.
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Image Sources
Middle image: top left CC Image courtesy of mrhayata on Flickr; top right CC Image courtesy of Noah on Flickr
Bottom image: top CC Image courtesy of Yoko Nekonomania on Flickr
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