Lace Cap Hydrangeas are not available commercially, to my knowlege, as cut flowers. I guess this makes them particularly attractive to me as I have to grow them to enjoy them in my home. As a florist I have ready access to flowers and, of course, I love to sell them but there is something very special about the process of planting, nurturing, waiting and then reaping the rewards of my effort.

Lace Cap Hydrangea is the common name of a cultivar in the botanical classification Hydrangeaceae Hydrangea macrophylla. This large familty of plants has several hundred cultivars which are grown as ornamental plants. Hydrangea is native to many areas including China, Japan and some areas of the Americas.

Hydrangeas thrive on the Central Coast and you will see many established, specimens in the downtown area of Santa Maria reaching to the eves of the roof placing them at about 10 feet high. H. macrophylla grows well in full sun or part shade and likes a loose, rich, moist but well-drained soil. Propagation is by cuttings placed in a soil filled container, ground or air-layering, you can even root shoots in water. The large flowers of the hydrangea are really a collection of flowers growing in large flowerheads known as corymbs. H. macrophylla has a range of colors from blue to pink and the color of the plant varies with the PH of the soil. Acidic soil produces the blues and alkaline produces the pink or purples, neutral PH produces purple flowerheads.

Hydrangeas are deciduous, dropping their leaves with the first frost so it is not unusual to see Hydrangeas here on the coast as evergreen due to our mild winters. Hydrangeas grow from 3 to 9 feet high provided they receive good light, nutrition and moisture. Hydrangeas produce flowerheads from early spring to late fall but, again, it is not unusual to see flowers on a year-round basis in our mild climate. Flowerheads are created on the previous years wood so it is best to shape the bush each year but never cut all of the plant back or you will not have flowers for a couple of years. Macrophyllas do not need to be pruned unless there is dead wood or it is obtrusive in some way.

Cutting and Enjoying in the Home

There is a theory that to cut hydrangeas you must burn the stems upon cutting to keep the milky substance inside the stems. I have never done this and simply cut the stems and place in water. Cut hydrangeas will last about 1 week in the vase. A particularly beautiful, romantic arrangement can be created by the home floral arranger by placing a hydrangea stem in a vase with the flowerhead at the top of the container creating a base for the remainder of the arrangement. Simply add additional stems of a variety of cut flowers or addtional flowerheads creating a symetrical arrangement.

Hydrangeas will dry well for creating wreathes and dry arrangements. Simply do not cut the flowers and leave them to dry on the bush. The flowerheads will dry to a lovely parchment texture and will retain much of their color. Once dry you may cut the flowerheads and allow to fully dry. Dried hydrangeas will take stain or paint well. To keep for more than a season you may want to seal the flowerheads with a floral sealing product.