We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Hydrangea macrophylla - (Thunb.)Ser.

Common Name French hydrangea , Florist's Hydrangea, Bigleaf Hydrangea
Family Hydrangeaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Sunny places near the coast of E. Japan[11].
Range E. Asia - Japan.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Hydrangea macrophylla French hydrangea , Florist


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Raul654Hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea macrophylla French hydrangea , Florist
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hydrangea_macrophylla_SZ58.png

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Bloom Color: Blue, Lavender, Pink, Purple, Red, White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early spring, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid spring. Form: Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

H. maritima.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses: Sweetener

The young leaves, when dried and rubbed between the hands, become very sweet and are used to make a sweet tea called 'tea of heaven', it is used in Buddhist ceremonies[183]. The leaves contain phellodulcin (its chemical formula is C16 H14 O), a very sweet substance that can be used as a sugar substitute[116, 183]. One small leaf is sufficient to sweeten a cup of tea[218]. The older leaves can be dried, powdered and used as a flavouring on foods[105, 177]. The young leaves and shoots are also eaten cooked[105, 177]. Young leaves contain the toxin hydrocyanic acid, this reduces as the leaves grow older, often to zero levels[218].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiperiodic  Antitussive  Diuretic  Malaria

The leaves, roots and flowers are antimalarial, antitussive and diuretic[218, 240]. They are said to be a more potent antimalarial than quinine, due to the presence of an alkaloid[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge

A useful hedging plant because of its vigorous growth. The Hortensias or mop-head cultivars are recommended[200].

Special Uses

Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Container, Seashore, Specimen. Tolerates most soil[200], thriving in a well-drained loamy soil[1], but resenting dryness at the roots[11, 200]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[200], but if it is grown in a low rainfall area then it requires shade at the hottest part of the day[11]. Prefers a shady position[1]. Does well on very acid soils with a pH around 4.5[200]. Plants also tolerate alkaline soils, though they become chlorotic on shallow soils over chalk[200]. The colour of the flowers reflects the pH of the soil the plant is growing in, the flowers are pink in a neutral to alkaline soil and blue in an acid soil[200]. A very wind resistant plant when grown in mild areas[166]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -10°c[184], though the young growth in spring is frost-tender[K]. A very ornamental plant and polymorphic species[200], there are many named varieties[184]. This species was named for a sterile (or 'mop head') cultivar so that the true species should really be referred to as H. macrophylla normalis[182]. Plants are cultivated for their leaves in China and Japan. Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be cut back into old wood if required[188]. This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:Not North American native, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Suitable for cut flowers, Suitable for dried flowers, Blooms are very showy.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse in spring[113]. Cover the pot with paper until the seed germinates[78]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 8cm long, July/August in a frame. Overwinter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring[78]. Cuttings of mature wood in late autumn in a frame[200]. Mound layering in spring. Takes 12 months[78]. Leaf-bud cuttings of the current seasons growth in a frame[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Battien, Hottangxia, Kembang bokor,

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Pacific, SE Asia, USA, Vietnam,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Clerodendrum bungeiGlory Flower, Rose glorybower, Cashmere Bouquet, Mexican Hydrangea, Glory BowerShrub2.0 7-9 MLMHNM010
Deinanthe bifida Perennial0.4 6-9 SLMFSM10 
Deutzia scabraFuzzy pride-of-rochester, DeutziaShrub3.0 5-8 MLMHSNM102
Dichroa febrifugaChinese Quinine, DichroaShrub2.0 8-11 MLMHSNM031
Hydrangea anomalaHydrangeaClimber12.0 4-8 FLMHFSNM313
Hydrangea arborescensSeven Barks, Wild hydrangea, Ashy Hydrangea, Snowhill Hydrangea, Smooth HydrangeaShrub3.0 4-9 MLMHSNM13 
Hydrangea asperaHydrangeaShrub4.0 7-9 MLMHSNDM10 
Hydrangea hirta Shrub1.0 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Hydrangea paniculataPanicled hydrangea, Hybrid Hydrangea, PeeGee Hydrangea, Panicle HydrangeaShrub4.0 3-8 FLMHSNMWe122
Hydrangea serrataHydrangea, Mountain Hydrangea, Sawtooth HydrangeaShrub2.0 5-9 MLMHSNM203
Hydrangea serrata amagiana Shrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM402
Hydrangea serrata thunbergiiTea of heaven, Ama-tsja,Shrub1.5 5-9  LMHSNM302
Philadelphus coronariusMock Orange, Sweet mock orangeShrub4.0 4-8 FLMHSNM001
Philadelphus delavayi Shrub4.0 5-9  LMHSNM001
Philadelphus lewisiiMock Orange, Lewis' mock orangeShrub3.6 4-8  LMHSNM013
Philadelphus microphyllusLittleleaf Mock OrangeShrub1.2 5-9  LMHSNDM101
Philadelphus pubescensHoary mock orangeShrub5.0 5-9  LMHSNM001
Philadelphus purpurascens Shrub4.0 5-9  LMHSNDM001
Philadelphus x virginalisMock OrangeShrub3.0 5-8 MLMHSNM001
Platycrater arguta Shrub1.0 7-10  LMHSM103
Schizophragma hydrangeoidesJapanese Hydrangea VineClimber12.0 5-8 SLMHFSNM103
Schizophragma integrifolium Climber12.0 6-9  LMHFSNM023

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(Thunb.)Ser.

Botanical References

1158200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Tue Oct 19 21:27:58 2004

phyllodulcin or phellodulcin ?

p. koch   Sun Jun 10 2007

This caution concerned me from "The Prescription for Nutritional Healing" concerning Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) Parts used were rhizomes and roots but warned that the leaves should not be consumed because they contain cyanide amd can be toxic. What is your opinion?

Gardener   Wed Apr 16 2008

The Queensland Government Poisons Information Centre (Australia) warns: "All parts of the plant are poisonous. If eaten, symptoms can include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Skin contact can cause dermatitis, rash or irritation. Toxicity category: 2, 3 Warning: Seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

Queensland Govt. Poisons Information Centre

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Hydrangea macrophylla  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.