Mid-July to early August

Because Hokkaido has lower temperatures than Honshu, the peak season for hydrangeas arrives later there compared to the rest of the country. In Okinawa, they bloom in May, and from June to July the best viewing period moves northward from western to eastern Japan.

Take cuttings

Because hydrangeas rarely produce seeds, it’s common to propagate them by taking cuttings and inserting them into soil, a method known as “cuttings.” Hydrangeas are said to be so easy to propagate from cuttings that even beginners can grow more simply by “sticking them in the soil.”

gaku

The parts that look like hydrangea petals are actually sepals. The true flowers bloom small in the center. A distinctive feature is that the sepals grow large and look like petals. Many people might not have known this!

Mourning for the deceased

In times when medicine was not yet advanced, many people fell ill during the change of seasons—the rainy season—and died from their illnesses. It is said that many temples planted hydrangeas, which bloom during the rainy season, as a way to mourn and honor those who had passed away.

Patient Love

The flower language of blue and bluish-purple hydrangeas is “patient love.” It comes from the image of hydrangeas that bloom during the rainy season, enduring quietly while continuing to blossom beautifully. Other meanings include heartlessness, unfaithfulness, intelligence, and mystery.

inedible

Hydrangeas are toxic and should not be eaten. Their leaves and flowers contain poisonous components, making them unsuitable for consumption. Eating them can cause poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, fainting, and coma, so please enjoy them as ornamental plants only.