Trivia about hydrangeas. A collection of fun facts related to ajisai (hydrangeas).

There is a hydrangea that won Flower of the Year.

When it comes to hydrangeas, they are most often appreciated as potted plants or in the ground, but they have also been selected several times as Flower of the Year in the Japan Flower Selection.

For example, in 2011, the top prize in the potted plant category went to a variety called Nishoku no Gekko (Two-Tone Moonbow), which is said to gradually change from a lacecap to a mophead as it blooms.

In addition, hydrangeas from Shimane Prefecture, such as Kaleidoscope and Galaxy, have also been highly praised and have been selected as Flower of the Year.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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The leaves of the oakleaf hydrangea are shaped like oak leaves.

Oakleaf hydrangea is a member of the hydrangea family, but its leaves resemble oak leaves, and its flowers don’t form round clusters like typical hydrangeas; instead, they take on a pyramidal shape.

Some of you may have looked at it and wondered if it was really a hydrangea.

It is said to be native to the eastern part of North America.

It comes in various colors, but you may be familiar with the white varieties Snow Queen and Snowflake.

The flowers are beautiful, and in autumn the leaves turn a Bordeaux red, which is lovely as well.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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The world’s largest hydrangea is the ‘Fujikisshō Winter-blooming Hydrangea.’

The world’s largest hydrangea is a winter-blooming variety called “Fuji Kissho Fuyuzaki Ajisai.” Amazingly, its double flowers can reach 30 cm in diameter—quite large! And although hydrangeas are typically associated with the rainy season, this one blooms in winter, so you can even have it flowering for New Year’s.

It really stands out as a New Year’s decoration and is beautiful.

This hydrangea is said to be a cultivar developed over 25 years by Toyokazu Ichie, who contributed greatly to hydrangea breeding in Japan.

It’s a hydrangea I’d love to see with my own eyes at least once.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Popular as flowers to give on Mother’s Day

We tend to think each flower has just one meaning, but in fact the meaning can change depending on the color or the number of stems you give.

Hydrangeas are one such example, with many meanings like “fickleness,” “patience,” “harmony,” and “infidelity.” Among them are meanings such as “family” and “cozy family time,” which is why hydrangeas are also popular as Mother’s Day gifts.

Another reason is that their blooming season overlaps with Mother’s Day and the flowers last a long time.

Carnations are, of course, a lovely choice, but how about switching things up a bit and giving hydrangeas instead?

There was a confection called “hydrangea senbei.”

The beautiful shapes of flowers make you want to use them as motifs for sweets, don’t they? In fact, flower shapes are used in many contexts, both in Japanese and Western confections.

There’s even a sweet that not only takes hydrangeas as its motif but also uses them in its name.

Called “Ajisai Senbei,” it was created because the hydrangea is the official city flower of Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture.

It’s a popular cookie with a rich almond and sesame flavor.

Its round shape is reminiscent of a hydrangea.