Hydrangea: More than just a pretty face

Hydrangea season is upon us at Sun Valley.

Exciting news for most, as these pom-pom-like blooms are equally stunning in wedding bouquets, in large, upscale arrangements, and as single stems in a vase for the home. Even though its aesthetic appeal goes without saying, you should know that Hydrangea isn't just a pretty face. Here are some of Hydrangea's other qualities that make it special:

The All-American Flower

While Hydrangeas can be found all over the world today, some varieties are actually native to North America. A fun fact for our approaching Independence Day!

A Blooming Sensation
One stem of macrophylla (or "mophead") Hydrangea, a common variety we grow at Sun Valley, has dozens of four-petaled compact blooms that together form a cylindrical head, giving the flower the appearance of a very lovely mop.

The Chameleon

Many gardeners may be aware that soil alkalinity and the presence of aluminum contribute to the coloring of Hydrangea. But did you know some varieties also naturally change colors as they mature? For these varieties, the same Hydrangea bush produces much different colors from May to June and from June to August, when they become "antiqued" (appearing marbled with many layers of color). The great thing about the mild, misty summers at our Arcata farm is they provide Antique Hydrangeas with plenty of moisture, meaning they stay nice and hydrated even later in life.

The two Hydrangeas pictured above are the same variety
with different soil alkalinity. Remarkable difference, eh?
(Variety: Kuhnert, Blue & Light Pink)

This Hydrangea is antiqued. Notice the layers of color.
(Variety: Antique Hamburg Blue)

Healing Powers

Native Americans used parts of the Hydrangea plant as a diuretic, a detoxifier, a burn remedy, and today's equivalent of Icy Hot. Today, it is sometimes used as a tonic herb in alternative medicine, but I'm going to have to say "Don't try this at home," unless you are an alternative medicine specialist!

Magical mystery flower

Okay, this one may be a stretch, but according to folklore, Hydrangea can be used to break a witch's curse. I'm not sure this is really applicable to anyone these days, but it's great to know if you ever do have the misfortune of crossing paths with the Blair Witch.

Some like it hot...

When you bring them home, Hydrangeas need a variety of water temperatures for a variety of reasons. The stems should be run under hot water for 5-30 seconds after cutting a 1/2 to 1 inch off the stem. This softens the sap-like substance at the base of the stem and allows them to drink water. They should then be placed in fresh, tepid water covering the length of the stem and placed in a cool location. If your Hydrangea is looking deflated, the whole flower (bloom and all) can be brought back to life with an hour-long bath of cold water.

With all of its unique qualities, you could say Hydrangea is quite well-rounded. (Okay, okay. Bad joke.) Just remember the next time you're enjoying its breathtaking outer beauty, there's so much more to Hydrangea than meets the eye.

For more information on Hydrangeas, please visit our Flower Resource page at: http://www.thesunvalleygroup.com/thesunvalleygroup/pdf/SV_RP_Hydrangea.pdf

Here are a couple of other very helpful Hydrangea websites:

Hydrangeas! Hydrangeas! (For gardening and cut Hydrangea tips) http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/

American Hydrangea Society (Love the flower? Become a member!) http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/

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