Myths, legends and stories about hydrangeas

Even a single hydrangea Bush can completely transform a garden, adding French charm or Japanese aesthetics. We will tell you all the basic myths and legends about this beautiful flower, the history of its occurrence in Europe and significance in astrology!

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The arrival of hydrangeas to Europe

Often girls are given the names of flowers, but sometimes Vice versa – a plant called a female name.

Roughly in 1767, a French physician and naturalist Philibert Commerson (Philibert Commerson) saw a flowering shrub in the garden of the residence of the Governor of the island of Mauritius, Pierre Poivre (Pierre Poivre). He was amazed by the beauty of the flower and immediately realized that this new plant. Commerson called it a hydrangea (Hortensia opuloides) – in honor of the beautiful ladies, but which, on this account the opinions of historians rather strongly disagree. Pwvr probably brought a hydrangea from China, because in his youth he was a missionary, passionate botanist researcher and sistematika plants.

In honor of Philibert Commerson named more than 100 species of plants, the crater in the mountains of the volcano Piton de La Fournaise, on reunion island, Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersoni) and alley in the Botanical garden of Pamplemousses, which has its obelisk.

In Europe hydrangea was imported in the early nineteenth century. In 1829, a German physician and naturalist Philipp Franz von Siebold (Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold) brought from Japan the hydrangea to Europe. In 1832 he wrote the book “Nippon” (“Japan”), which codified all the accumulated data about the plants growing in Japan. In the “Flora of Japan”, he notes that his favorite hydrangeas growing near “Narutakisou”, he gave the scientific name, otaksa in honor of his wife (from O-Taki-San).

The origin of the Botanical name Hydrangea

The Botanical name of the Bush – of hydrangia, Hydrangea – you know, perhaps, only to specialists. In Greek it means “container of water” and tells about a very important plant increased flagylbuy. Interestingly, in his native Japan, the hydrangea is called “longing for the water.” In the East it is called “fashionista” for the variability in color of buds and flowers (blue, pink, purple).

Selection of hydrangeas

Selection of hydrangeas began in the early twentieth century. The first varieties were bred by the French originators mainly has low winter-hardiness of hydrangea macrophylla. To 60-th years of XX century it was withdrawn about 100 varieties. Overall, modern breeding aimed at obtaining new unusual colors of flowers, of Terry and beautiful shapes of leaves. Now the hydrangea has hundreds of varieties, and work on new varieties continues unabated. One of the largest suppliers of new varieties of garden hydrangea are breeders of France and Germany.

Hydrangea is the flower of Buddha

Hydrangea is not only ornamental value. According to one ancient legend, in the day when Buddha was born, from the sky rained beautiful flowers and poured the sweet nectar “amaca”. Then appeared on the Earth flower “audisi” (Ajisai), as the Japanese call the hydrangea.

Therefore, tea made from hydrangea – a ritual beverage of the Buddhists. During the celebration of the birth of the Buddha, the small hall of each temple is decorated with flowers. Set in the middle of the pool, and in it a statue of the newborn Buddha. Came to the temple poured on the head of Buddha amacha sweet tea, brewed tea from the leaves of the hydrangeas. Priests are preparing for the holiday, dozens of litres of this drink and offer it to visitors. It is believed that sweet tea made from hydrangea has magical properties.

Photo: the Temple Gisozi known as the temple of hydrangea in Japan

Legends about girls with names Hydrangea

The legend of Madame Lepota

According to one legend, it is a beautiful plant named after the prominent French – Nicole-rain Etable de La brière (the husband of Madame Lepota, Nicole-Reine Lepaute).

Nicole Rhine Etable de La brière was born in Paris on 5 January 1723. Still quite young, she traveled around the world, full of dangers. In 25 years became the wife of a courtier watchmaker Lepota and under his name became famous as the first female mathematician and astronomer in France. She participated in the calculation of the orbit of Halley’s comet, calculated and built a detailed map of the observed in Paris in 1764 annular solar Eclipse. Its merits as a scientist were recognized as the works were published in editions of the Paris Academy.

Thus, according to one legend, it was in honor of Madame Lepota Philibert Commerson named the flower “pothia”, but then another naturalist, A. Gussie, changed it to the already familiar to us – “hydrangea”. Thus arose the legend of Hydrangea Lepota.

The legend of Jeanne Barre

According to another version, the Hydrangea appears as the lover Commerson, traveled with him, disguised in male attire. Her name was Jeanne Barre (Jeanne Barret).

In 1765, the Bougainville, Commerson was invited to take part in the expedition. Dressed in male dress, as a servant, Jean, with him went his housekeeper and possible mistress. On the ship there was a strict ban on females, so Jeanne was hiding for quite a long time. She helped Commerson collect samples of plants, as well versed in them. But the exposure came, and the Bougainville decided to leave both on the island of Mauritius, where in 1773 Commerson died. Jeanne returned to France and married. For services to the Fatherland, she was granted a pension.

In honor of Jeanne Commerson called the two plants: Baretia bonafidia and Solanum baretiae, which are easily read her name. But if you believe a popular American writer, then, returning to France, she changed her name to Hortense (Hortense). Maybe she just regained my real name, and the second, Jeanne, was in fact a female version of the name of her father Jean. Another mystery for historians. By the way, you know exactly what in her honor on April 26, 2018 named mountains (Montes Baret) on Pluto.

The legend of Princess Hydrangea

There is also a theory that the hydrangea was named in honor of the Princess Hortense, the sister of Prince Karl Heinrich of Nassau-Siegen (Karl Heinrich Nikolaus Otto von Nassau-Siegen). Commerson named as this beautiful flower to please the Prince. However, the Prince was an only child. However, perhaps the lady in the portrait was with the Prince in the more distant related or not related.

Hydrangea in the language of flowers: what does it mean?

Hydrangea – “Remember me”

She has such values as humility, sincerity, and even coldness and indifference.
In addition, the hydrangea is considered a plant people born from 11 to 20 April. Astrologers suggest these people to plant it in your garden.

Hydrangea in garden design

Hydrangeas are used in mixed borders, in group and single crop. In addition, hydrangeas are grown for cutting and grown in containers for decoration of balconies, patios, porches. The bigleaf hydrangea is most often used for planting in containers.

Curly types (hydrangea) are suitable for vertical gardening. The hydrangea is valued primarily as Liana, capable without additional supports to climb the wall, decorating buildings, fences, pillars. However, sometimes it is grown as a groundcover.