HEAVENLY HYDRANGEAS

At Bud & Flower we adore Hydrangeas: Not only do they look spectacular in the home but also at Weddings.

Its flower heads are made up of tightly clustered individual florets. Depending on how acidic the soil is, it will alter their colour. Very acidic soil produces blue flowers, neutral soils give a cream / white colour petal whilst alkaline soils result in more pink or purple shades.

They are given for a 4th Wedding Anniversary. A sweet tea made from the dried leaves of the Hydrangea variety (macrophyllavar. thunbergii) called 'Amacha' is used to celebrate Buddhas' Birthday (April 8th) in Japan.

In Japan the Hydrangea symbolises heart felt emotion and apology and in Europe the White varieties symbolise arrogance and vanity.

Because the shape of the Hydrangea is reminiscent of an old water pitcher the flower gets its name from 'Hydro ( water) and Angeion (vessel).

For your home

Hydrangeas have a chic appearance and are perfect for any home. They look beautiful displayed on their own but combine well with other blooms such as Roses, Peonies or Delphiniums to create a show stopping centerpiece.

For Weddings

Hydrangeas have a big blousy and attention seeking quality. Garlands and Arches made completely from Hydrangeas are perfect for any classical Antique Event. They can be paired with almost anything from Roses to Eucalyptus to Gerbera daisies etc. The possibilities are endless.

To get the most from your Hydrangeas

Fill a vase almost full with tap water and add flower food as directed on the packet.
Trim 2-3 cm off the bottom of the stems and remove any foliage that may be below the water line and place your flowers in the vase.
Keep the water topped up and remove any foliage that may have fallen in the water. You can also mist your Hydrangea blooms to prolong their vase life.
Re-cut the stems every few days and change the water.
If your Hydrangeas start to wilt early, remove them from the vase and re-cut submerging the whole flower in water for 30-45 mins minutes and you will find they came back to life.

Hydrangeas never go out of style

American species were brought to the UK in the 1730's. They are native to Eastern Asia and North America.

Being pollen friendly they are also insect pollinated.

Available from the Summer to late Autumn, the White ones can be spray tinted. The stems range from 24” (60cm) to 28” (70cm) with a bloom 4 – 6 inches (10 – 15cm).

Colour Range

White

Cream

Salmon

China Blue

Light Blue

Deep Blue

Pink

Lilac

Burgundy

To dry Hydrangeas for an Autumn display simply place them in a few inches of water and let nature take its course. As the water evaporates your blooms will dry naturally. They will feel crispy to the touch.

I have also colour enhanced them once dried using a shop bought dye which will make them vibrant. Its a messy job!

They can also be spray painted once dried.

Types of Hydrangea we use

Mop Heads and Lace Caps.

Mop Heads have large round flower heads in shades of white, cream, pink, purple, blue and burgundy

Lace Caps have small center flowers with large outside flowers.

Panicle are Cone shaped often starting white and turning a shade of pink