Hydrangeas thrive in partial shade and moist conditions, and with proper care they bloom all over the branches

Hydrangea, also known as bigleaf hydrangea or ajisai, is a deciduous shrub in the genus Hydrangea of the family Saxifragaceae. Its flowers are small and densely packed, gathered into large, full, spherical inflorescences; when in full bloom they look like colorful balls hanging all over the branches, making them highly ornamental. The flower colors are rich and varied, with blue, purple, pink and white being common, and the same plant can even change flower color under different soil conditions, which is one of the reasons it is so popular.

There are many horticultural varieties of hydrangea, and the most commonly cultivated is the bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla); in addition there are also panicle hydrangea, oakleaf hydrangea, smooth hydrangea and other types. Different varieties differ in flower form, plant height and cold hardiness; some are suited to being planted in the ground in courtyards, while others are better for potted display, so the local climate conditions can be taken into account when choosing what to plant.

As for care, hydrangeas prefer a partial-shade, moist environment and fear intense direct sunlight, so appropriate shading is needed during the high temperatures of summer. They like loose, fertile, well-drained soil; watering to keep the soil slightly moist is enough, and waterlogging that causes root rot must be strictly avoided. Soil pH directly affects flower color: in acidic soil the flowers tend toward blue, and in alkaline soil toward pink, so the desired color can be obtained by adjusting the soil. Removing spent flowers promptly after blooming helps flowering the following year, and in northern regions attention must also be paid to cold protection and warmth in winter.

With a long blooming period and abundant clusters of flowers, hydrangea is an excellent choice for courtyard landscaping, flowerbed arrangement and balcony container growing, and cut flower stems also look very good when used for vase display, so it is very widely used in gardens and home horticulture.