

North Florida Pictures: Hydrangeas

Hydrangea (/ha?'dre?nd?i?/;common names hydrangea or hortensia) is a genus of 70-75 species of flowering crops local to southern and eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and the Americas. By far the greatest types diversity is eastern Asia, china notably, Japan, and Korea. Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters extra tall, but some are small trees and shrubs, while others lianas attaining up to 30 m (98 foot) by climbing up trees and shrubs. They can be either evergreen or deciduous, although extensively cultivated temperate kinds are all deciduous.Having been introduced to the Azores, H. macrophylla is currently very common, on Faial particularly, which is known as the "blue island" because of the vast number of hydrangeas present on the island.Life cycleHydrangea flowers are produced from early spring to late autumn; they grow in flowerheads (corymbs or panicles) frequently at the ends of the stems.
Typically the flowerheads contain two types of blossoms: small non-showy blooms in the center or interior of the flowerhead, and large, showy flowers with large bright colored sepals (tepals). These showy blossoms are expanded in a wedding ring often, or to the exterior of the small flowers. Vegetation in wild populations have few to none of them of the showy bouquets typically, while cultivated hydrangeas have been picked and bred to have more of the bigger type flowers.There are two flower arrangements in hydrangeas with Corymb style inflorescens, which include the commonly grown "bigleaf hydrangea"--Hydrangea macrophylla. Mophead bouquets are large circular flowerheads resembling pom-poms or, as the name indicates, the mind of an mop. On the other hand, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flowerheads with a center core of subdued, small blooms encircled by outer bands of larger blooms having showy tepals or sepals.
The flowers of some rhododendrons and viburnums can appear, at first glance, a lot like those of some hydrangeas.Colors and garden soil acidityIn most species the flowers are white, however in some varieties (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, green, light crimson, or dark crimson. In these types the colour is afflicted by the existence of lightweight aluminum ions which can be found or tied up depending after the dirt pH. For H. macrophylla and H. serrata cultivars, the flower color can be dependant on the relative acidity of the soil: an acidic soil (pH below 7), will supply aluminum ions and produce flowers that are blue to purple typically, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will tie up aluminum ions and lead to pink or red flowers.
This is caused by a color change of the rose pigments in the occurrence of aluminium ions which may be taken up into hyperaccumulating vegetation.[6] Reducing the pH of potting soils or mixes usually will not change the rose color to blue, because these soils have no aluminum ions. The capability to blue or pink a hydrangea is affected by the cultivar also. Some plants are selected for their ability to be blued, while some are bred and selected to be red, white or pink. The flower color of all other Hydrangea species is not affected by aluminum and can't be changed or shifted. Hydrangeas also have a nickname called 'Change Rose'.
Hydrangea (/ha?'dre?nd?i?/;common brands hydrangea or hortensia) is a genus of 70-75 kinds of flowering vegetation local to southern and eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and the Americas. Certainly the greatest varieties diversity is eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea. Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters tall, however, many are small trees and shrubs, and more lianas getting up to 30 m (98 feet) by climbing up trees. They could be either evergreen or deciduous, though the greatly cultivated temperate species are deciduous.Having been introduced to the Azores, H. macrophylla is currently very common, on Faial particularly, which is recognized as the "blue island" because of the vast number of hydrangeas present on the island.Life cycleHydrangea flowers are produced from planting season to late autumn; they develop in flowerheads (corymbs or panicles) frequently at the ends of the stems.
Typically the flowerheads contain two types of blooms: small non-showy blossoms in the center or interior of the flowerhead, and large, showy flowers with large vibrant sepals (tepals). These showy bouquets are long in a ring often, or to the exterior of the small flowers. Vegetation in untamed populations have few to none of the showy blooms typically, while cultivated hydrangeas have been bred and selected to have more of the bigger type blooms.There are two flower arrangements in hydrangeas with Corymb style inflorescens, which include the commonly grown "bigleaf hydrangea"--Hydrangea macrophylla. Mophead blossoms are large round flowerheads resembling pom-poms or, as the name suggests, the relative head of your mop. On the other hand, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flowerheads with a center core of subdued, small flowers surrounded by outer rings of larger flowers having showy sepals or tepals.
The blooms of some viburnums and rhododendrons can show up, initially, very much like those of some hydrangeas.Garden soil and colors acidityIn most kinds the flowers are white, however in some varieties (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, green, light purple, or dark crimson. In these varieties the color is influenced by the presence of lightweight aluminum ions which can be found or tied up depending after the garden soil pH. For H. macrophylla and H. serrata cultivars, the flower color can be determined by the relative acidity of the soil: an acidic soil (pH below 7), will supply aluminum ions and produce flowers that are blue to purple typically, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will tie up aluminum ions and lead to pink or red flowers.
This is the effect of a color change of the bloom pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which may be taken up into hyperaccumulating vegetation.[6] Decreasing the pH of potting soils or mixes usually will not change the blossom color to blue, because these soils haven't any aluminum ions. The capability to blue or green a hydrangea is also influenced by the cultivar. Some plants are selected because of their ability to be blued, while some are bred and selected to be red, pink or white. The flower color of all other Hydrangea species is not influenced by aluminum and cannot be changed or shifted. Hydrangeas likewise have a nickname called 'Change Rose'.