Hydrangea hirta
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Hydrangeaceae
- Genus
- Hydrangea
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Edible uses
Leaves - cooked[2]. Eaten with rice[5].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - C. Japan.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse in spring[4]. Cover the pot with paper until the seed germinates[7]. 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[7]. Cuttings of mature wood in late autumn in a frame[6]. Mound layering in spring. Takes 12 months[7]. Leaf-bud cuttings of the current seasons growth in a frame[6].
Cultivation
Tolerates most soils[6], thriving in a well-drained loamy soil[1], but resenting dryness at the roots[3][6]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[6], but if it is grown in a low rainfall area then it requires shade at the hottest part of the day[3]. It grows well on very acid soils with a pH around 4.5[6]. Although the dormant plant is quite hardy in Britain, the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. Closely related to H. scandens[6]. This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[6].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00