Hydrangea
One hydrangea head can carry a bouquet single-handedly — up to 20 cm of coverage per stem. Growers now offer 'antique' hydrangeas where the natural late-summer colour shift (blue → pink → green → burgundy) is preserved, creating a browsed, painterly effect that dominates editorial floristry. Fragile once cut — plan the timeline carefully.
| Family | Hydrangeaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | East Asia, Americas; commercially grown Netherlands, Colombia |
| Peak season | June, July, August, September |
| Availability | all year (imported) |
| Stem length | 40–70 cm |
| Vase life | 4–10 days |
| Colors | white, blush, pink, blue, purple, green, burgundy |
| Price tier | mid |
Cut stems on a sharp diagonal. Split the stem end 2 cm with a knife (never a hammer). Submerge the entire head in cool water for 30 minutes if wilted — hydrangeas rehydrate through the flowerhead as well as the stem.
- •Wilt fast without water — always keep in water
- •If wilted, the head can be revived by submerging in cool water for 30 min
- •Autumn 'antique' hydrangeas (browned/pinked heads) are the premium tier
- •One stem = up to 20 cm of coverage — high value per stem
30 named hydrangea cultivars from the Lacy Bird master catalogue — each a distinct commercial variety.
Entries marked ✦ come from the Acanta master catalogue — the shared database of cut flowers, forms, colours and named varieties that florists and studios build on. The rest are our editorial genus reference. What is Acanta →
Bouquet Builder — by Lacy BirdDesign the bouquet. See it as a photo.
Botanical reference
- Common name
- Bigleaf Hydrangea
- Also known as
- hortensia, ? otaksa, Hortensia japonica, Hortensia macrophylla, Hortensia macrophylla isobue, Hortensia macrophylla isonotaki, Hortensia macrophylla normalis, Hortensia mutabilis, Hortensia nigra, Hortensia opuloides, Hortensia rosea, Hortensia speciosa
- Distribution
- Japan, Kazan-retto
- Uses
- medicinal plant
Open-data sources: GBIF, Wikidata (CC0/CC BY)
Frequently asked questions
When is Hydrangea in season?
Hydrangea peaks in June, July, August, September, and florists can usually source it all year (imported). Availability shifts by region and greenhouse supply.
How long does Hydrangea last in a vase?
Expect 4–10 days with proper conditioning — a clean vase, fresh water every couple of days, flower food, and a cool spot away from ripening fruit and direct heat.
What can I use instead of Hydrangea?
Good substitutes for Hydrangea include Viburnum, Lilac. Match on look, colour and season — our substitute finder ranks the closest alternatives.
What does Hydrangea symbolise?
Hydrangea is associated with gratitude, grace, abundance.
How do you care for cut Hydrangea?
Wilt fast without water — always keep in water
Related flowers
Free to quote and cite with attribution and a link back, for non-commercial and editorial use (blogs, journalism, classrooms, research).
Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — “Hydrangea”. https://lacybird.com/flowers/hydrangea/<a href="https://lacybird.com/flowers/hydrangea/">Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — Hydrangea</a>