The Beautiful Garden Classic – The Hydrangea

What was once considered old-fashioned is now all the rage: the hydrangea. This deciduous plant with its extravagant flowers needs plenty of water, but otherwise, it's a very undemanding companion in the home garden.

Everyone knows and loves them: hydrangeas have become indispensable in gardens and also look great on balconies. The plants with their extravagant and elegant flowers in various colors make summer even more vibrant.

Hydrangeas have the botanical name Hydrangea, which comes from the Greek and translates to something like "water jar." This isn't far-fetched, as hydrangeas have a very high water requirement and can quickly wilt if they don't get enough to drink. However, despite needing so much water, the plant isn't resentful if it has been a bit dry for a few hours. Just water it generously, and after a few hours, the hydrangea will be happy again.

It's hard to imagine now, but hydrangeas were once considered old-fashioned. In fact, the plant with its high water demand fell out of fashion. It was seen as too outdated, too dull. It didn't fit into the new, modern garden concepts and was forgotten. Today, however, it's rare to find a garden without a hydrangea. Rightly so: the hydrangea has earned its name. The German name for the hydrangea is derived from the Latin word "hortus," which means "garden." No wonder the plant is once again enjoying great popularity.

There are now over 80 different species of hydrangea. They are native to East Asia, North America, and Chile. The most well-known species include the Bigleaf Hydrangea, the Panicle Hydrangea, the Velvet Hydrangea, the Smooth Hydrangea, the Snowball Hydrangea, and the Climbing Hydrangea. And one thing all these species have in common is their high water demand. Therefore, hydrangeas should never be placed in direct sunlight and should grow in well-drained soil. They thrive best in partial shade.