Springtime cherry blossoms may very well take the prize for most iconic Japanese flower, but early summer belongs to hydrangeas. These multi-coloured beauties were first cultivated in Japan as early as the eighth century, but fossil records show their existence dates back tens of millions of years.
Each year during the rainy season in June and July, hydrangeas begin to bloom in shades from cool blue to vivid neon pink. From temples to footbridges, these flowers can be found all over. Here are some fun facts to keep in mind while you’re snapping pics of those pretty flower pom-poms.
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The word hydrangea is a combination of the Greek words hydro ('water') and angeion ('vessel'), presumably because the plant's seed capsules look like little water containers. Given that hydrangeas bloom during the rainy season and need lots of moisture to survive, the name fits in more ways than one.
As for their Japanese name, it's ajisai, which translates to 'purple sun flower'.
Those lovely pink, purple and blue bits of the hydrangea we see aren't actually petals. They’re called 'sepals', leaf-like structures that protect and support the flower bud. The hydrangea's colourful sepals have the added function of attracting pollinators.
Mophead hydrangeas – one of the most common hydrangea types with flower heads that look like, well, a mophead – usually grow between one and two metres in height. The panicle hydrangea (pictured above) can get even bigger, reaching heights of three metres or more.
The slow-growing Hydrangea petiolaris – more commonly called the climbing hydrangea – takes the cake, growing up to 15 metres tall under the right conditions. Fifteen!
It's unlikely you'll have to worry about allergies flaring up when you're around hydrangeas. Their sticky pollen doesn't get picked up by the wind like other plants, so you're far less likely to have an allergic reaction. Most hydrangeas are also fragrance free, which is great for those with sensitive noses.
There's more to those sepals than just pretty colours – the hue of a hydrangea can tell you about the ground it's planted in. Blue or purple sepals indicate acidic soil, while red or pink sepals occur in alkaline soil and white sepals occur in neutral soil.
Keep an eye on the kiddos and four-legged friends when around hydrangeas, as they're moderately poisonous and contain compounds that release toxic cyanide when ingested, causing symptoms like diarrhea, nausea or even seizures.
If prepared properly though, dried hydrangea leaves make a sweet tea called amacha (usually served during an April ceremony celebrating Buddha’s birth) – but don’t try to make it yourself at home.
From Hydrangea anomala to Hydrangea zhewanensis, taxonomists don’t agree on exactly how many hydrangea species there are: there could be as few as 23 or as many as 80. Regardless, hydrangeas remain a beautiful sign that summer has arrived in this big beautiful city.
So, put on your gumboots and head out this rainy season to see how many varieties you can find.
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