Hydrangeas 101: Meaning of each color (2024)

FAQs

What do the different colors of hydrangeas mean? ›

Red or pink blooms result from neutral or basic soil (pH 7 and above), whereas blue blooms indicate acidic conditions (pH less than 7). However, the underlying mechanism of the color shift turns out to be aluminum ions (Al³⁺), which are only mobile and available under acidic conditions.

The hydrangea has been known to link to apologies and gratitude in this tradition. The story goes, that an emperor gave hydrangeas to a maiden that he was deeply in love with as an apology for neglecting her while he was otherwise occupied by his other, business related affairs.

Hydrangeas come in many different colors, even on the same stem. They have different meanings depending on the color. Pink - romance, sincerity, associated with love, weddings, and marriage. Green - linked to harshness, rejection of romantic proposals, begging for forgiveness, and expressing remorse.

If your soil is more alkaline, your hydrangeas will be pink or even purple. According to Garden Design, adding lime or eggshells to the soil will ensure a pinker color, while adding aluminum sulfate, pine needles, or coffee grounds can give your hydrangeas the blues.

Changing Soil pH Is Not Always Simple

Soil buffering capacity – the soil's resistance to pH change – is quite high in loamy soil (less so in sandy soil). The small amount of baking soda typically recommended doesn't have much of an impact. It usually leaves the pH, and thus, the hydrangea color, unchanged.

With their large petals and eye-catching shape, some tied their meaning to vanity and boastfulness too. And, interestingly, during Medieval times, people believed that women who grew or kept hydrangea would not be able to find a spouse.

As with many other natural elements, Japanese myths and legends are also hidden behind the ajisai. One of these tells that, to remedy the fact of having neglected it due to work emergencies, a Japanese emperor gave beautiful blue hydrangeas to the family of the girl he loved.

In Victorian times, hydrangeas had a negative connotation of boastfulness and arrogance. This meaning likely came about due to the abundance of flowers the hydrangea plant produces yet yields very few seeds. In the U.S., hydrangeas symbolize heartfelt emotion and are often given for the fourth anniversary.

Hydrangea love being well-watered, though they don't like wet feet, so make sure your soil is well-drained! Three hydrangea types grow well in our region: H. Arborescens, H. Macrophylla, and H.

The beautiful white and pink blooms also attract a variety of bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators to your landscape too.

What kind of soul do hydrangeas have? ›

For bigleaf hydrangeas, the best is loam soil. Loam soil is made up of a pretty even mixture of sand, silt, and clay, giving it a great well-balanced texture. Loam soil has good water retention and has excellent drainage, which provides a healthy environment for hydrangeas to thrive.

Hydrangeas are long-lived shrubs, sometimes living for up to 50 years if properly cared for. They enjoy morning sun but afternoon shade, and they need frequent watering during the growing season. Prune them in the fall after the blooms fade so they can grow on strong stems the following summer.

Pink – romance, true feelings, harmony. Blue – gratitude, patience, deep understanding, sincerity. White – purity, grace. Green – renewal, good fortune, rebirth, prosperity. Purple – gratefulness, friendship, leadership, royalty.

Hydrangea is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth for only a few days. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and chest tightness. It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use more than 2 grams of dried hydrangea rhizome/root at a time.

Generally speaking, acidic soil, with a pH lower than 6.0, yields blue or lavender-blue hydrangea blooms. Alkaline soil, with a pH above 7.0, promotes pinks and reds. With a pH between 6 and 7, the blooms turn purple or bluish-pink. To lower your pH, add garden sulfur or aluminum sulfate to your soil.

They're sepals, the part of the flower that protects the flower bud. Why do hydrangeas bloom green? Because that's the natural color of the sepals. As the sepals age, the pink, blue, or white pigments are overpowered by the green, so colored hydrangea blossoms often fade to green over time.

Green hydrangeas

Most of the time, green flowers have a meaning of renewal and rebirth. But, green hydrangeas also represent good fortune, good health, youthfulness and prosperity. These flowers are great to give to someone who needs a fresh start and positive energy in their life.

Hydrangeas turn green because of age. Eventually, the flower will turn from green to brown and is a normal process. ANSWER: You'd be amazed how many times I have been asked this question. The problem is simply age.