Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla 'Jogasaki' (L/d)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

The Hydrangea macrophylla 'Jogasaki' is a remarkable garden plant known for its unique and ornamental flowers. Commonly referred to as hydrangea, this variety showcases large, rounded clusters of blooms that can alter their color based on the soil pH. The flowers exhibit a distinctive multi-petaled, star-shaped form known as a double bloom, giving them a frilled appearance that adds to their charm. The leaves of the hydrangea are thick with a glossy, dark green color, providing a lush backdrop that further accentuates the beauty of the flowers. The blooms typically emerge in early to mid-summer and can continue to provide visual interest well into the fall, persisting as they gradually fade to muted tones. Hydrangea 'Jogasaki' is appreciated for its robust flowering and can be found enhancing many gardens and landscapes. It is favored by gardeners not just for its visual appeal but also for its adaptability to a range of growing conditions, demonstrating a versatility that is ideal for both experienced and novice plant enthusiasts alike.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Hydrangeaceae.
- Synonyms
  Bigleaf Hydrangea, French Hydrangea, Lacecap Hydrangea, Florist's Hydrangea, Hortensia.
- Common names
  Hydrangea macrophylla 'Jogasaki' (L/d).
Toxicity
- To humans
  Hydrangeas, including Hydrangea macrophylla 'Jogasaki', can be toxic to humans if ingested. The plant contains compounds like hydragin, which is a cyanogenic glycoside. When any part of the plant is consumed in significant quantities, this compound can release cyanide into the body. Symptoms of hydrangea poisoning may include gastrointestinal upset, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and breathing difficulties might occur due to the release of cyanide. It is rare to have severe poisoning from hydrangeas, but it is essential to seek medical attention if ingestion occurs and symptoms manifest.
- To pets
  Hydrangeas, including Hydrangea macrophylla 'Jogasaki', are also toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. The toxicity is primarily due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides within the plant. If a pet ingests parts of the hydrangea, symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and depression. In severe cases, ingestion of hydrangeas can lead to cyanide poisoning, which can be life-threatening and may cause increased heart rate and respiratory rate, seizures, and potentially coma. If you suspect that your pet has ingested hydrangea, it is crucial to contact a veterinarian promptly.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  4 feet (1.22 meters)
- Spread
  4 feet (1.22 meters)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  6
- Native area
  Japan

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Adds vibrant color and texture to gardens with its beautiful double flowers.
- Versatility in Landscaping: Can be used as a specimen plant, in borders, or in mass plantings for dramatic effect.
- Seasonal Interest: Offers visual interest throughout its flowering season, generally in late spring and summer.
- Attracts Pollinators: Invites bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, supporting biodiversity.
- Erosion Control: The bushy growth habit can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion in garden settings.
- Shade Tolerance: Adapts well to a variety of light conditions, including partial shade.
- Easy Propagation: Can be easily propagated through cuttings, allowing gardeners to expand their collection.
- Long Lifespan: As a perennial, it can provide enjoyment for many years with proper care.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Hydrangea macrophylla 'Jogasaki' can be used in pressed flower art due to its vibrant colors and flat floret shape that preserves well.
- The plant can be incorporated into wedding bouquets and floral arrangements for its symbolism of gratitude and heartfelt emotions.
- Its blooms can serve as natural dyes for fabric, yielding various shades of blue, pink, or purple depending on the soil pH.
- Hydrangeas can be utilized in crafting, such as making decorative wreaths or centerpieces for tables.
- The woody stems of hydrangeas, once dried and treated, can be turned into small handcrafted items like picture frames or jewelry.
- In certain cultures, hydrangeas are grown for their ornamental leaves which are used in the preparation and presentation of traditional ceremonies.
- The vibrant flowers can be used as a natural backdrop or setting for professional photography sessions.
- Petals of the hydrangea can be scattered in ponds or water features to create a picturesque aesthetic for events or landscaping.
- The contrasting green foliage and colorful flowers can be used as inspiration for artists and designers, influencing patterns and palettes in visual art.
- Gardeners sometimes use these plants to create living fences or borders that provide both beauty and privacy.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The hydrangea is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The hydrangea is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Heartfelt Emotions: The Hydrangea, with its lavish, full head of petals, resonates with abundance and symbolizes the overwhelming feelings of love and gratitude one might have for another person.
- Gratitude: As a common gift in European cultures, giving hydrangeas often expresses thanks or deep appreciation for the receiver's understanding and kindness.
- Apology: Hydrangeas can also symbolize an apology, particularly in Japan, due to a legend in which an emperor gave them to his maiden to make amends for neglecting her.
- Frigidity or Disinterest: In some cultures, giving hydrangeas can suggest the giver is conveying frigidity or a lack of romantic interest, possibly stemming from their association with boastfulness in Victorian flower language.
- Boastfulness or Vanity: This association comes from Victorian times when flowers were used to convey messages. A hydrangea could imply that the receiver is boastful or vain.

💧

Every 2-3 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The lacecap hydrangea should be watered deeply once or twice a week, depending on the weather conditions and soil drainage. Aim for a total of 1 to 1.5 gallons per plant each week during the growing season. Adjust the watering if rain provides sufficient moisture. Ensure the soil is moist but well-drained, and avoid overwatering which can lead to root rot. During winter, reduce watering as the plant requires less moisture due to dormancy.
Light
The lacecap hydrangea thrives in partial shade, with dappled sunlight being ideal. Protection from harsh afternoon sun helps prevent scorching of the leaves. The best spot for planting is where the plant will receive morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered shade throughout the day.
Temperature
Lacecap hydrangeas prefer a temperature range between 50°F and 80°F. They are cold-hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9 and can generally handle minimum temperatures down to 20°F. However, the ideal growing conditions for the plant are in a climate with moderate summer temperatures not exceeding 75°F.
Pruning
Pruning lacecap hydrangeas can help maintain their shape, encourage new growth, and improve flowering. They should be pruned immediately after flowering, typically in late summer or early fall, to avoid cutting off next year's buds. Remove old flowers and cut back to the first healthy set of buds. Lightly shape the plant without over-pruning, as too much cutting can reduce the number of blooms.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Bigleaf hydrangeas thrive in rich, porous, moist but well-draining soil with a pH that ideally ranges from 5.5 to 6.5. To create the best soil mix for these plants, combine 2 parts garden soil, 1 part peat moss or well-rotted compost, and 1 part perlite or coarse sand. This ensures adequate drainage and the slightly acidic conditions they prefer, helping to promote the lush foliage and vibrant blooms characteristic of the species.
Repotting
Bigleaf hydrangeas generally need to be repotted every 2 to 3 years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth. It's best to repot in the late winter or early spring before the growing season starts. When repotting, choose a container just slightly larger than the previous one to prevent waterlogging.
Humidity & Misting
Bigleaf hydrangeas require moderate to high humidity levels to thrive, ideally between 50 and 70 percent. Indoor environments should be regulated to maintain this humidity range, while ensuring good air circulation around the plant to prevent potential fungal diseases.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place bigleaf hydrangea in bright, indirect light indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant bigleaf hydrangea in part shade and sheltered spot outdoors.
- Hardiness zone
  6-9 USDA
Life cycle
The life cycle of Hydrangea macrophylla 'Jogasaki', commonly known as lacecap hydrangea, begins with seed germination, where the seed requires moist, well-drained soil and usually a period of stratification to break dormancy. The seedling stage follows, characterized by the emergence of initial leaves and a root system; the plant is particularly vulnerable during this stage. It then enters the vegetative stage, with rapid growth of stems, leaves, and a robust root system, typically requiring partial to full sunlight and adequate water. Flowering occurs in the mature plant, usually in late spring to early summer, with distinctive flat flower heads consisting of a combination of showy sterile flowers and smaller fertile flowers. The plant then undergoes pollination, either self-pollinated or cross-pollinated by insects, leading to the production of seeds contained within capsules. The plant may enter a period of dormancy during colder months, dropping leaves in temperate climates, but will resume growth in the following season, continuing its perennial cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- The most popular method of propagation for Hydrangea macrophylla 'Jogasaki', commonly known as bigleaf hydrangea, is through softwood cuttings. This technique is typically performed in late spring or early summer when the plant's new growth is still tender but mature enough to handle cutting. Gardeners select healthy, non-flowering shoots and cut a segment of about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) long. The bottom leaves are removed, and the cut end is dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. The cutting is then planted in a mixture of peat and perlite, ensuring the leaf nodes are buried where roots and possibly new shoots will emerge. The planted cuttings are kept under high humidity and indirect light until roots form, which usually takes several weeks. After rooting, the new hydrangea plants are gradually acclimated to less humid conditions before transplanting.