When Should You Give Fresh Hydrangea Flower Arrangements?
This classic flower has the meaning of gratitude, grace, beauty, and abundance, so hydrangeas work perfectly in thank-you gifts or gifts of friendship. They're also popular birthday flowers. The hydrangea features a beautiful, round cluster of flowers atop each stem, and the flower's large size and beautiful color are truly impressive in any birthday bouquet. Hydrangeas also come in multiple colors, including white, blue, green, and pink, so you can buy an arrangement of them featuring your loved one's favorite hue.
Interesting Facts About the Hydrangea
How Hydrangeas Got Their Name
The name "hydrangea" derives from the Greek word "hydria," meaning "water vessel." The name came from the hydrangea's cup-shaped seed capsules found at the center of the flower; each one resembles a tiny water vessel. And this name could not be more appropriate for the water-loving flower that can quickly dehydrate once cut.
The plant is also sometimes called by its earlier Latin name, hortensia. "Hortensia" came from the name Hortense, as in the 1700s French astronomer and mathematician Nicole-Reine Hortense Lepaute. The scientist was commonly known as Hortense Lepaute, and she was one of the most educated and intelligent women of her time. A Japanese rose variety was also named for this pioneer of astronomy.
The Scientific Side of Hydrangeas
There are more than 70 species of the hydrangea plant, and there is wide variation between their flowers. Some plants are considered shrubs and grow from 1 to 3 meters tall (that's about 3 to 9 feet). Other varieties, however, are tall and tree-like, and some can climb onto nearby trees to grow nearly 100 feet tall. The leaves are varied, too; some are known as big-leaf hydrangea, and others have petite foliage. The hydrangea flowers themselves can vary in size as well, but plants sold in nurseries have mostly been bred to produce the large and showy flowers customers love.
Hydrangeas have the unique ability to change the color of their flowers when exposed to different pH levels in their soil. Acidic soil with a pH below 7 will have available aluminum ions that can transfer to the hydrangea and cause the flowers to turn blue or purple. On the other hand, if hydrangeas encounter alkaline soil that has a pH above 7, the lack of aluminum ions will produce pink or red flowers. Many gardeners have tried to influence their hydrangeas' color by adding organic materials to their gardens, such as coffee grounds, citrus peels, or eggshells, to affect the soil's pH.
Hydrangea plants are native to North, Central, and South America and eastern Asia. They are most commonly found in China, Korea, and Japan, where their flowers bloom in early spring and continue through late autumn.
The Useful Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are most commonly used as decorative plants and cut flowers that beautify homes and gardens. However, people who practice herbal medicine have also noted that the plant's roots and rhizomes can be used in remedies for urinary tract conditions. The variety Hydrangea serrata has also been used to make amacha, a sweet tea. The tea is used in Buddhist ceremonies, where it is poured over a statue of the Buddha on his birthday and served to the ceremony's attendees. However, it's important to note that the hydrangea is mildly toxic and it is not recommended for consumption.
Arranging and Caring for Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas require a lot of water to remain hydrated and perky, which makes them a little tricky to care for as a cut flower. The blooms have the ability to take in water with their petals, but warmth can cause them to lose water from the large surface area of their flowers, too. Fresh-cut hydrangeas will have the longest life span when they are designed in a vase of water rather than being arranged in floral foam or a wrapped bouquet because they will have the greatest access to water flowing up their stems.
Order a Fresh, Beautiful Happy Birthday Hydrangea Bouquet Today
At Kremp Florist, we have decades of experience artfully designing and delivering hydrangeas so that they arrive in peak condition, ready to impress your recipient and remain fresh and vibrant as long as possible in their care. When you order a hydrangea birthday bouquet from us, we'll select only the freshest stems and deliver them quickly; in fact, if you place your order before 12:30 p.m. in your loved one's time zone, we can deliver them the same day! Shop with Kremp today for a birthday gift that's sure to please.
