Most gardeners have favorites, although we may not admit it. It feels unfair somehow, like picking a favorite child. But if I’m being honest, I would have to name hydrangeas right up there on the top of my favorites list. In addition to their diverse use in the landscape, hydrangea meaning and symbolism is a rich story to explore.
They are relatively simple plants, but mastering hydrangea care is key to growing healthy plants that will churn out vibrant blooms year after year. These shrubs are the true workhorses of the garden: they are easy to grow, produce huge, gorgeous blooms, and even turn colors as you change the acidity of the soil.
I’m not someone who plants a flower because I like its “meaning,” but, in the case of a plant I love as much as hydrangea, the complex history of hydrangea symbolism adds yet more weight to the scale. What do hydrangeas symbolize? The meaning is different in different cultures and even according to flower color.
What Does the Word “Hydrangea” Mean?
When I write about “hydrangea meaning,” I don’t mean the literal definition of the word. The origin of the word is interesting, though. It comes to the English language from two words from the Greek language, the words “hydor” and “angos” or “angeion.”
“Hydor” is the word for water in Greek – and “angos” means jar or vessel. These Greek words, read together, mean water vessel, and that is the linguistic significance of “hydrangea.” Some experts suggest that the plants get that name because they need a lot of water, though watering hydrangeas doesn't need to be done more frequently than any other flowering shrub. Others say the shape of the plant resembles an ancient water pitcher.
Historical Hydrangea Meaning
Things get more interesting when you look at the historical hydrangea flower meaning. That’s because there is not one historical meaning, but two different meanings, depending on whether you ask a Japanese or European person.
Japanese Meaning: Gratitude and Apology
To the Japanese, hydrangeas symbolize heartfelt emotion, gratitude, and apology. This comes from a legend about a Japanese emperor who neglected his true love because of his royal duties. To apologize and show his continuing love for her, he is said to have sent a bunch of hydrangeas to her. The flowers he sent were blue. This is why the blue hydrangea meaning became one of apology.
European Meaning: Vanity and Boastfulness
For the historical meaning in Europe, the story is very different. With their extravagant blooms and large, lush leaves, hydrangea blooms were linked to vanity in Europe. They came to symbolize vain and boastful women.
Hydrangea Symbolism in Different Cultures
Today, hydrangea symbolism is still closely linked to geography. Some varieties of these flowers are native to Asia, growing in the wild in China, Japan, and Korea. Other hydrangeas varieties are native to North America, including oakleaf hydrangeas and smooth hydrangeas.
Asian Symbolism: Apology and Resilience
As described above, Japanese culture associates the flowers – especially blue hydrangea flowers – with the legendary Japanese emperor’s gift of remorse. However, in Korea, these extravagant blooms are associated with perseverance and resilience. They are celebrated every year in the Hydrangea Flower Cultural Festival at Korea’s Busan Taejongsa Temple.
North American Symbolism: Medicine and Beauty
Even before the hydrangea landed in Japan, to be hidden in secret gardens for centuries, it was thriving in North America. Ancient fossils of hydrangeas have been found in North America that date to 40-65 million years old!
In fact, the shrubs were much appreciated by Native Americans. While they admired the flowers' beauty, indigenous peoples of North America also imbued hydrangeas with spiritual and therapeutic significance. They used the roots of the smooth hydrangea for medicinal purposes. The rhizomes were said to help with issues involving the kidneys and bladder.
European Symbolism: Pride and Vanity
The language of flowers expressed through Victorian floral arrangements and flower color symbolism was a popular study in Britain and Europe in this era. In Europe, hydrangeas, with their lavish blooms, came to be seen as “prideful” plants, associated with boastfulness, bragging, and vanity. Pretty harsh, but luckily times have changed.
Hydrangea Flower Meaning by Color
Does the hydrangea flower’s color impact the meaning? Keep in mind that there is no “official” meaning or significance of blue or pink or white hydrangea flowers. But like red roses suggest romance while yellow roses suggest friendship, the different shades of hydrangea blooms have particular meanings to some people. In general, blue hydrangeas are seen as signifying gratitude, pink hydrangeas are supposed to mean love and affection, and white hydrangeas are said to refer to purity and honor.
But I have to say, I’ve seen no less than 10 different shades of blue hydrangea, from darkest purple blue to pale baby blue, and I love them all. The same is true of pink hydrangeas. Between the blue and pink ends of the hydrangea spectrum, you’ll find endless shades of purple hydrangeas.
I have had a dozen different colored hydrangeas on the same shrub in areas that have both acidic and alkaline soil. The ability to change hydrangea color makes them fun to grow. In fact, it is this vast range of hues that makes me adore hydrangeas even more.
Hydrangea Care Essentials
If you have been inspired to grow your own hydrangeas after learning about their meaning and symbolism, here are some helpful products to make your growing journey a smooth one.
- Endless Summer 'BloomStruck' hydrangeas from Walmart offer the classic mophead hydrangea look and is a great option if you are looking for a reblooming hydrangea with the ability to change colors.
- Looking for a native variety of hydrangea to add to your landscape? The 'Toy Soldier' oakleaf hydrangea from the Home Depot is an excellent candidate, especially for smaller gardens.
- Fertilize your hydrangeas and other flowering shrubs with Jobe's Organics fertilizer spikes, available from Amazon.
- Check the pH of your soil with this convenient soil test kit that can be found on Amazon. It also includes tests to determine the NPK levels in your soil!
- Turn your hydrangeas a romantic shade of pink by adding this organic garden lime from Espoma that can be purchased from the Home Depot.
- This soil acidifier, also from Espoma, will turn your hydrangeas a brilliant blue and can be found at the Home Depot.
