Hydrangea

3 comments

Dear All,

I mentioned in my last blog entry about the wild hostas I have been finding on the property. I should also have mentioned the hortensia or hydrangea species I ahve been finding. Again, native to Japan, hydrangea were, like hostas, introduced to the West by that fellow Siebold. Of course they have been crossed and hybridized so much to get the lovely colours and foliage we have now. However, as I wander roudn the near wilderness of Shadowlands I keep stumbling across hydrangea; all completley wild, and all apparently different varieties!!! I have already transplated five different types (identifiable as hydrangea from their leaves and basal shooting etc). All appear to fall into the general category ‘yama agisai’ that is mountain hydrangea, but quite different from one another. I wonder just how many clearly defined varieties I have, and of course some may well be unlisted. I’ll be noting their characteristics as best I can. I was reading that there are also some species of climbing hydrangea! Perhaps i’ll find one of those!!! Pics to follow at first light.

Best wishes,

ptarotuos