Trivia about hydrangeas. A collection of fun facts related to ajisai (hydrangeas).
Hydrangeas are a common sight in parks, city streets, and temples once the rainy season arrives.
They come in a variety of colors—blue, purple, red, and more—and many people find their rain-dappled appearance especially charming.
In this article, we’ll introduce a collection of fun facts about hydrangeas, a quintessential symbol of early summer.
We’ve gathered information from various angles, including the structure of hydrangeas, the origin of their name, and the reasons behind their colors.
We hope this article inspires you to learn more about hydrangeas.
After reading, be sure to go out and observe real hydrangeas for yourself!
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Hydrangea Trivia: A Collection of Fun Facts About Hydrangeas (11–20)
There’s a charm for boosting financial luck that uses hydrangeas.
Did you know that hydrangeas are believed to bring good fortune in money? This originates from the custom of displaying beehives as lucky charms under the eaves or indoors.
The yellow color of bees evokes money, and because bees are hard workers and reproduce vigorously, they became symbols of thriving business.
Since the structure of hydrangea blossoms resembles that of a beehive, hydrangeas came to be displayed as a substitute.
It’s said that hanging them at the entrance on dates with a 6 in June, on the summer solstice, or on the Day of the Ox in midsummer can boost financial luck.
In particular, June 26 is considered the most effective day.
The color of the flowers changes depending on the soil’s pH.
Hydrangeas bloom in a variety of colors—red, blue, purple, pink.
Because their colors change, they even have floral meanings like “fickleness” and “seven transformations.” But why do their colors change? Hydrangea color shifts due to a chemical reaction between anthocyanins in the flowers and aluminum present in the soil.
In acidic soil, aluminum dissolves more readily, tending to shift the color toward blue.
The color also responds to other factors such as varietal traits, soil moisture, and phosphate content, making their depth and complexity part of their charm.
It is a plant native to Japan.
Around June, hydrangeas delight us with a variety of colors—blue, white, pink, and more.
Although hydrangeas come in many varieties and hues, they actually originate from Japan.
Incidentally, a German physician named Philipp Franz von Siebold, who lived in Japan during the Edo period, brought hydrangeas and other plants back to Europe, where breeding advanced and the richly diverse Western hydrangeas we know today were developed.
They were later reintroduced to Japan.
In one of Siebold’s books, Western hydrangeas are referred to as Hydrangea otaksa.
“Hydrangea” is the term for Western hydrangeas, and “otaksa” is said to come from the nickname of Siebold’s Japanese wife.
Hydrangea is a summer kigo (seasonal word).
When it comes to rules in haiku, they include the 5-7-5 syllable pattern and the use of a seasonal word (kigo).
The hugely popular variety show “Prebat!!,” which features haiku, is known for its strict yet thoughtful commentary.
By the way, do you know which season hydrangeas are considered a kigo for? Kigo in haiku are often based on the old lunar calendar, and hydrangeas are treated as a summer kigo within that framework.
They can be classified even more specifically as a mid-summer (chūka) kigo.
When composing a haiku with hydrangeas, it might be best to keep the designated season in mind.
Hydrangeas that change to antique colors are called ‘aki-iro ajisai’ (autumn-colored hydrangeas).
When you think of hydrangea colors, what comes to mind? Calm purples and blues, or pinks and whites that brighten up a gentle rain.
Each color has its own charm that suits the scenery, doesn’t it? Among them, there are hydrangeas whose blossoms change into subdued antique tones as the season turns.
It may sound like a rare variety, but they’re already sold at florists.
Achieving those antique colors is said to be quite challenging, but once you manage it, why not display them just as they are?