Changes

| high =    <!--- 3ft (1m) -->

| high =    <!--- 3ft (1m) -->

| wide =    <!--- 20in (65cm) -->

| wide =    <!--- 20in (65cm) -->

| origin =     <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->

| origin = S&E Asia, N&S America

| poisonous = mildly toxic

| poisonous = mildly toxic

| lifespan = perennial

| lifespan = perennial

| genus = Hydrangea

| genus = Hydrangea

}}

}}

'''''Hydrangea''''' ({{pronEng|haɪˈdreɪndʒ(i)ə}}, common names '''Hydrangea''' and '''Hortensia''') is a genus of about 70-75 species of [[flowering plant]]s native to southern and eastern [[Asia]] (from [[Japan]] to [[China]], the [[Himalaya]] and [[Indonesia]]) and [[North America|North]] and [[South America]]. The flowers are extremely common in the [[Azores]] Islands of [[Portugal]], particularly on [[Faial Island]], which is known as the "blue island" due to the vast number of hydrangeas present on the island. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China and Japan (See: Japanese [[Ajisai flower]]). Most are [[shrub]]s 1-3 m tall, but some are small [[tree]]s, and others [[liana]]s reaching up to 30 m by climbing up trees. They can be either [[deciduous]] or [[evergreen]], though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.

'''''Hydrangea''''' is a genus of about 70-75 species of [[flowering plant]]s. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China and Japan (See: Japanese [[Ajisai flower]]). Most are [[shrub]]s 1-3 m tall, but some are small [[tree]]s, and others [[liana]]s reaching up to 30 m by climbing up trees. They can be either [[deciduous]] or [[evergreen]], though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.

Hydrangea [[flower]]s are produced from early [[Spring (season)|spring]] to late [[autumn]]; they grow in flowerheads ([[corymb]]s or [[panicle]]s) at the ends of the stems. In many species, the flowerheads contain two types of flowers, small fertile flowers in the middle of the flowerhead, and large, sterile bract-like flowers in a ring around the edge of each flowerhead. Other species have all the flowers fertile and of the same size.

Hydrangea [[flower]]s are produced from early [[Spring (season)|spring]] to late [[autumn]]; they grow in flowerheads ([[corymb]]s or [[panicle]]s) at the ends of the stems. In many species, the flowerheads contain two types of flowers, small fertile flowers in the middle of the flowerhead, and large, sterile bract-like flowers in a ring around the edge of each flowerhead. Other species have all the flowers fertile and of the same size.

In most species the flowers are [[white]], but in some species (notably ''H. macrophylla''), can be blue, red, pink, or purple. In these species the exact colour often depends on the [[pH]] of the soil; [[acid]]ic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and [[alkaline]] soils results in pink or purple. Hydrangeas are one of very few plants that accumulate [[aluminium]]. Aluminium is released from acidic soils, and in some species, forms complexes in the hydrangea flower giving them their blue colour.  

In most species the flowers are [[white]], but in some species (notably ''H. macrophylla''), can be blue, red, pink, or purple. In these species the exact colour often depends on the [[pH]] of the soil; [[acid]]ic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and [[alkaline]] soils results in pink or purple. Hydrangeas are one of very few plants that accumulate [[aluminium]]. Aluminium is released from acidic soils, and in some species, forms complexes in the hydrangea flower giving them their blue colour.  

Species in the related genus ''[[Schizophragma]]'', also in Hydrangeaceae, are also often known as hydrangeas. ''[[Schizophragma hydrangeoides]]'' and ''[[Hydrangea petiolaris]]'' are both commonly known as climbing hydrangeas.

Species in the related genus ''[[Schizophragma]]'', also in Hydrangeaceae, are also often known as hydrangeas. ''[[Schizophragma hydrangeoides]]'' and ''[[Hydrangea petiolaris]]'' are both commonly known as climbing hydrangeas.

==Cultivation==

==Cultivation==