Fashionable Hydrangea

Many of us first came to know hydrangea as garden shrubs, hovering in the shade of a house, with large, round, mop-headed flowers. In the shadows for years, now this modest plant has come into its own as a cut flower. Hydrangea have captured the nation's fancy. Their lush blooms are splashed across magazine covers, home decor fabrics, and even dishware.

Harvested as a cut flower in California year round, the color range of the hydrangea accommodates all seasons. Along with milky whites and soft pastels, there are brilliant blues, vivid pinks, and even the fuchsia colored Hydrangea macrophylla 'Matilda Gucci.' The hydrangea performs equally well in bridal bouquets, English garden arrangements, fruit and flower Flemish-style designs for autumn, or tucked into Christmas garlands.

"Its dramatic large head makes the hydrangea one of the most versatile mass flowers," says Barbara Thran-Anderson, AIFD, of South Lake Tahoe, California. The hydrangea is very fashionable for wedding work, in classically simple handtied bouquets, salal garlands, pulled apart for boutonnieres, or surrounding the base of the wedding cake. Their large heads on long stems are also ideal in large showy pieces for special events, says Thran-Anderson.

For a very romantic look, Thran arranges hydrangea with lilies, blown open roses, stock and ivy. For a very delicate look, the Lacecap hydrangea has dainty flowers that open up like a lacy cap above larger sterile flowers that never open.

Part of the magic of hydrangea is their ability to change colors, either naturally as they mature, or coached by climate and soil acidity. For example, H. serrata 'Preziosa' progresses from white, to violet, to wine red by summer. One of the most spectacular transformations is H.m. 'Glowing Embers,' which evolves as it matures from raspberry pink to brilliant red in fall.

Today, brilliant, intense tones are in demand, says Jerry Bolduan, who grows about 85 different hydrangea varieties at Green Valley Growers in Sebastopol, California. Two of the most popular are H. m. 'Blue Danube,' which has rich purple, violet-like blossoms, and H.m.'Nikko blue,' with lime green foliage and pale to deep blue petals, depending on the soil acidity.

Dried hydrangea are as popular and versatile as the fresh cut flowers. Many of the colors turn green when dried, while others retain an intense color. 'Nikko Blue' turns bright green with purple-tipped petals.

Timing is the secret to successful drying, says Bolduan. The flowers should be picked from August to December when the petals are stiffer. If picked early in summer, the more delicate petals are likely to shrivel. The flowers can be dried in a cool, dry place in a container of water.

Floral foam tends to clog their stems, unless properly "hardened." Fresh cut hydrangea do best when arranged in a deep container with plenty of water.

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