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Hydrangea
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==Cultivation and uses== Hydrangeas are popular [[ornamental plant]]s, grown for their large flowerheads, with ''[[Hydrangea macrophylla]]'' being by far the most widely grown. It has over 600 named [[cultivar]]s, many selected to have only large sterile flowers in the flowerheads. ''Hydrangea macrophylla'', also known as bigleaf hydrangea, can be broken up into two main categories; mophead hydrangea and lacecap hydrangea. Some are best pruned on an annual basis when the new leaf buds begin to appear. If not pruned regularly, the bush will become very "leggy", growing upwards until the weight of the stems is greater than their strength, at which point the stems will sag down to the ground and possibly break. Other species only flower on "old wood". Thus, new wood resulting from pruning will not produce flowers until the following season. The following [[cultivars]] and species have gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]] under the synonym ''Schizophragma'':<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf |title=AGM Plants - Ornamental |date=July 2017 |page=96 |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref> *[[Hydrangea hydrangeoides|''S. hydrangeoides'' var. ''concolor'']] 'Moonlight'<ref name=RHSPF>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/110847/i-Schizophragma-hydrangeoides-i-var-i-concolor-i-Moonlight/Details |title=RHS Plantfinder - ''Schizophragma hydrangeoides'' var. ''concolor'' 'Moonlight' |access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref> *[[Hydrangea hydrangeoides|''S. hydrangeoides'' var. ''hydrangeoides'']] 'Roseum'<ref>{{cite web |title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Schizophragma hydrangeoides'' var. ''hydrangeoides'' 'Roseum' |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1804 |access-date=3 June 2013}}</ref> *''[[Hydrangea glaucescens|S. integrifolium]]''<ref>{{cite web |title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Schizophragma integrifolium'' |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/16816/Schizophragma-integrifolium/Details |access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref> Hydrangea root and rhizome are indicated for the treatment of conditions of the urinary tract in the [[Physicians' Desk Reference]] for Herbal Medicine and may have diuretic properties.<ref>PDR for Herbal Medicine 3rd Edition Page 453</ref> Hydrangeas are moderately toxic if eaten, with all parts of the plant containing [[cyanogenic glycoside]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/hills-of-snow.html |title=Hills of Snow |access-date=31 May 2018}}</ref> ''[[Hydrangea paniculata]]'' is reportedly sometimes smoked as an intoxicant, despite the danger of illness and/or death due to the [[cyanide]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.erowid.org/herbs/hydrangea/hydrangea.shtml |title=Erowid Hydrangea Vault |website=www.erowid.org |access-date=31 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/06/high-danger-hydrangea-french-police-hunt-gang |title=High danger hydrangea? French police hunt gang peddling 'cheaper weed' |first=Kim |last=Willsher |date=6 February 2014 |newspaper=the Guardian |access-date=31 May 2018}}</ref> The flowers on a hydrangea shrub can change from blue to pink or from pink to blue from one season to the next depending on the acidity level of the soil.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gardenista.com/posts/everything-need-know-hydrangeas/# |title=Everything You Need to Know About Hydrangeas |website=www.gardenista.com |access-date=15 June 2018 |date=2018-06-10}}</ref> Adding organic materials such as coffee grounds and citrus peel will increase acidity and turn hydrangea flowers blue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gardenista.com/posts/magic-trick-how-to-make-your-hydrangea-change-color/# |title=Hydrangeas: How To Change Color from Pink to Blue |website=www.gardenista.com |access-date=15 June 2018 |date=2016-05-10}}</ref> A popular pink hydrangea called Vanilla Strawberry has been named "Top Plant" by the American Nursery and Landscape Association. A hybrid "Runaway Bride Snow White", from Japan, won ''Plant of the Year'' at the 2018 RHS [[Chelsea Flower Show]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/lifestyle/gardening-advice/hydrangeas-chelsea-plant-of-the-year# |title=This plant has been named 'plant of the year' at the Chelsea Flower Show |access-date=31 May 2018 |date=2018-05-22}}</ref> ===In culture=== In Japan, ''[[Amacha|ama-cha]]'' ({{lang|ja|甘茶}}), meaning sweet tea, is another herbal tea made from ''[[Hydrangea serrata]]'', whose leaves contain a substance that develops a sweet taste ([[phyllodulcin]]). For the fullest taste, fresh leaves are crumpled, steamed, and dried, yielding dark brown tea leaves. Ama-cha is mainly used for ''kan-butsu-e'' (the [[Buddha]] bathing ceremony) on April 8 every year—the day thought to be Buddha's birthday in Japan. During the ceremony, ama-cha is poured over a statue of Buddha and served to people in attendance. A legend has it that on the day Buddha was born, nine [[dragon]]s poured [[Amrita]] over him; ama-cha is substituted for Amrita in Japan. In [[Korean tea]], ''[[Hydrangea serrata]]'' is used for an [[herbal tea]] called ''sugukcha'' ({{lang|ko|수국차}}) or ''isulcha'' ({{lang|ko|이슬차}}). The pink hydrangea has risen in popularity all over the world, especially in Asia. The given meaning of pink hydrangeas is popularly tied to the phrase "you are the beat of my heart," as described by the celebrated Korean florist Tan Jun Yong, who was quoted saying, "The light delicate blush of the petals reminds me of a beating heart, while the size could only match the heart of the sender!"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rollmagazine.com/archive/oct11/articles/garden.php |title=Hydrangeas, Hydrangeas, Hydrangeas - Roll Gardening & Green :: Roll Magazine: Creative Living in the Hudson Valley |website=www.rollmagazine.com |access-date=31 May 2018}}</ref> ''Hydrangea quercifolia'' was declared the official state wildflower of the U.S. state of [[Alabama]] in 1999.<ref>State Botanical SymbolsBy Alan McPherson, p.3</ref> Hydrangeas were used by the [[Cherokee]] people of what is now the Southern U.S. as a mild diuretic and cathartic; it was considered a valuable remedy for stone and gravel in the bladder.<ref name="Library of Congress">{{cite book |last1=Hylton |first1=William H. |title=The Rodale herb book: how to use, grow, and buy nature's miracle plants |date=1974 |publisher=Rodale Press Book Division |location=Emmaus, Pa. |isbn=0-87857-076-4 |page=474 |oclc=610291480 |edition=Eighteenth Printing — September 1979 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/610291480 }}</ref> [[Extrafloral nectaries]] were reported on hydrangea species by Zimmerman 1932, but Elias 1983 regards this as "doubtful".<ref>{{cite journal |date=2012-10-18 |first1=Marjorie G. |last1=Weber |first2=Kathleen H. |last2=Keeler |title=The phylogenetic distribution of extrafloral nectaries in plants |pages=1251–1261 |doi=10.1093/aob/mcs225 |journal=Annals of Botany |eissn=1095-8290 |volume=111 |issue=6|pmc=3662505 }}</ref> <!-- ===Bee-friendliness=== Hydrangea variants vary in bee-friendliness and their ability to feed pollinators. In general, common hydrangeas are not bee-friendly because their flowers are sterile, e.g. ''Hydrangea macrophylla hortensis'' (''mophead'') and ''H. paniculata'' (''limelight''). Those that give food for bees and pollinators are: * ''Hydrangea anomala petiolaris'' * ''Hydrangea arborescens'': Smooth hydrangeas are versatile and spectacular, and can be used in a variety of landscape settings, including foundation plantings, perennial gardens, hedges, cut flower gardens, naturalising, pollinator, and wildlife gardens. * ''Hydrangea aspera'': * ''Hydrangea mycrophylla'': Bigleaf hydrangeas are classic choices for flower gardens, cottage gardens, and seaside plantings. They can also be used for low hedges or edging, and they offer a splash of color to foundation plantings. * ''Hydrangea paniculata'' (''grandiflora''): Panicle hydrangeas are the most sun-tolerant and wilt-resistant of the hydrangeas. It's perfect for Specimen plantings, mixed borders, and mass plantings. It can be used as a hedge or a screen. Excellent for both fresh and dried cut flowers. * ''Hydrangea quercifolia'': Oakleaf hydrangea blooms on old growth. It thrives in damp, well-drained environments. In colder climates, winter protection may be required. Shrub with a deciduous appearance. Apply a slow-release fertiliser formulated for trees and shrubs in the early spring. -->
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