# Hydrangea Hydrangeas are large, round flowers that can change color! They are often seen in gardens and are loved for their beauty. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Hydrangeas love to grow in gardens with plenty of water. - **Also known as:** Hydrangea macrophylla ![Hydrangea](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424283/objects/4930.jpg) ## Appearance The Hydrangea has large, vibrant flower clusters that can be mop-like or flat-topped (lacecap). Its blossoms come in shades of white, pink, blue, purple, or green, uniquely changing hue based on soil acidity. Leaves are typically broad and serrated. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Cornales - **Family:** Hydrangeaceae - **Genus:** Hydrangea ## Interesting facts - Fossils show hydrangeas existed with dinosaurs millions of years ago, long before humans! - Some hydrangea flower clusters can grow bigger than a soccer ball! - The name 'Hydrangea' means 'water vessel' because these beautiful plants are super thirsty! - You can change a hydrangea's flower color by adding special ingredients to its soil! ## Special abilities - **pH Color Changer:** Hydrangea flowers can change from pink to blue or purple depending on the soil's acidity, a unique chemical reaction! - **Thirsty Bloom:** Hydrangea can quickly wilt when dry but dramatically rehydrate, efficiently absorbing water to bounce back to life. - **Winter Warrior:** Hydrangea sheds its leaves in cold climates to protect itself during winter, conserving energy for beautiful spring blooms. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — attracted to showy flower clusters - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — deer browse on leaves and stems ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hydrangea? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Hydrangea? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Hydrangea spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Hydrangea? 1-3 cm ### When does Hydrangea bloom? Summer to fall ### Is Hydrangea edible? No ### Is Hydrangea toxic? Mild ### What is Hydrangea's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Coker Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coker-arboretum-north-carolina) — North Carolina, US · Zoo - [Maizuru Nature and Culture Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maizuru-nature-and-culture-park) — Kansai, JP · Park - [Shimane Hana-no-Sato Flower Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shimane-hana-no-sato) — Chugoku, JP · Park - [Taejongdae Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/taejongdae-park) — KR · Park [View all places to see Hydrangea](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hydrangea) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Hydrangea: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hydrangea)