Hydrangea (Hydrangea hortensis) – Heartlessness or a Boaster

A native of China and Japan. It was named by Dutch botanist, Joannes Fridericus Gronovious (1686-1762) who derived it from the Greek words “hudor” for water and “aggeion” for jar or vessel because they are marsh plants and need lots of water. It was introduced to England in 1740. As it gives out such magnificent blossoms without ever producing fruit, it was likened to a boaster.

“No more delays, vain boaster! But begin,
I prophesy beforehand I shall win:
I’ll teach you how to brag another time.”

John Dryden

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Hydrangeas from my garden

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HYDRANGEAS

Recent discoveries in China, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines show that the Hydrangea have been around long before the arrival of men. The oldest fossil discoveries are in the United States (Alaska , Oregon and California) and were dated between 40 to 65 million years ago. They are mainly cultivated for its beauty, but they also have a medicinal uses. In North America the medicine men used the roots of H.arborescens to induce to expel kidney stones and to combat bronchitis.

Photographs by LaBelle

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