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Hydrangea
Hydrangea
“heartfelt gratitude”
The hydrangea's accepted meaning is heartfelt gratitude and being understood, a reading often traced to a Japanese legend of an emperor who gave hydrangeas in apology to a family he had neglected. The Victorians, less charitably, sometimes accused its huge scentless heads of boastfulness, but it is the kinder meaning that has endured. Its name comes from the Greek for 'water vessel', a clue that these generous blooms drink deeply and reward a well-topped-up vase.
In season, and in the studio
Hydrangea is in season July to October, so it is in the studio this month. In the studio's bunches it is a focal flower: the one a bunch is built around, with the others chosen to frame it. The studio buys it in antique green, dusky blue and vintage pink, and at the bench each colour is read for its own meaning.
What each colour says
- Antique greenrenewal and quiet abundance
- Dusky blueunderstanding and sincere apology
- Vintage pinkheartfelt emotion, warmly given
Right for
Bunches with hydrangea in them
The studio’s bunches that name this stem, arranged to order in Sevenoaks and delivered by the van, or posted through the letterbox.
Arranges beautifully with
Pairings follow the florist's rule: one voice leads and the others frame it (focal, secondary, texture, green).