The name hydrangea comes from Greek and means water vessel. The plant takes its name from the fact that the seeds look like tiny water jugs. Hydrangeas are native to Asia and the Americas and thrive in any soil. The hydrangea is classified as a deciduous shrub and blooms in the spring and summer. While it can grow up to fifteen feet in gardens, this plant thrives in pots indoors.

Depending on the species, hydrangeas can be white, blue, pink, maroon, red, purple, and even pale green. One of the exciting things about the plant is that you can change the color of the flowers by adjusting the soil’s PH level. You can enjoy vibrant purple or blue flowers by adding some citrus peel or coffee grounds to the soil.

The hydrangea often represents heartlessness or vanity in western countries; in Asia, pink hydrangeas are given to loved ones as an apology. People in Japan use hydrangea leaves to make a special kind of sweet tea traditionally poured on Buddha statues on April 8th. This is done to celebrate the birth of Lord Buddha, and the sweet tea represents anointment by dragons.