bigleaf hydrangea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lacecap hydrangea
• Bigleaf Hydrangea
• French hydrangea
• common hydrangea
• mophead hydrangea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hortensia macrophylla f. isobue
• Hydrangea hortensia var. maculata
• Hydrangea hortensia f. otaksa
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis
• Hydrangea maritima
• Hortensia macrophylla f. normalis
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. azisai
• Hydrangea hortensia var. azisai
• Hydrangea opuloides f. macrosepala
• Hydrangea opuloides var. hortensia
• Hydrangea opuloides var. plena
• Hydrangea japonica fimbriata-macrophylla
• Hydrangea opuloides var. mandschurica
• Hydrangea hortensia var. mariesii
• Hydrangea hortensis var. alba
• Hydrangea azisai var. foliis-aureovariegatis
• Hydrangea japonica var. otaksa
• Hydrangea japonica var. variegata
• Hydrangea japonica speciosa
• Primula mutabilis
• Macnemaraea opulina
• Viburnum macrophyllum
• Hortensia macrophylla
• Hydrangea japonica f. hortensia
• Hydrangea mutabilis
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. hortensia
• Hydrangea nigra
• Hortensia macrophylla f. isonotaki
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. otaksa
• Hydrangea mandshurica
• Hydrangea opuloides
• Hydrangea macrophylla var. normalis
• Hydrangea otaksa
• Hydrangea macrocephala
• Hydrangea macrophylla var. otaksa
• Hydrangea macrophylla var. hattoriana
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. nuda
• Hydrangea florida
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. veitchii
• Hydrangea hortensis
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. mandschurica
• Hydrangea cyanoclada
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. isobue
• Hydrangea azisai
• Hydrangea sieboldii
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. isonotaki
• Hydrangea hortensia var. otaksa
• Hortensia mutabilis
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. mariesii
• Hortensia nigra
• Hortensia opuloides
• Hydrangea japonica var. macrosepala
• Hortensia rosea
• Hydrangea hortensia f. variegata
• Hortensia speciosa
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. macrosepala
• Hydrangea hortensis var. maculata
• Hydrangea opuloides var. otaksa
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. maculata
• Hydrangea opuloides var. azisai
• Hydrangea hortensia f. rosea
• Hydrangea hortensia var. macrosepala
• Hydrangea japonica variegata
• Hydrangea opuloides var. japonica
• Hydrangea hortensia var. rosea
• Hydrangea macrophylla var. hortensis
• Hydrangea hortensis var. mariesii
• Hydrangea opuloides var. mariesii
• Hydrangea opuloides var. variegata
• Hydrangea macrophylla f. caesia
• Hydrangea japonica var. albovariegatis
• Hydrangea japonica var. plena
• Hydrangea japonica var. coerulescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Cornales and the family Hydrangeaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Hydrangea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be found specifically within Great Britain. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also established in Germany. The distribution extends into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits the landscapes of France. Finally, its range reaches further south to include the territories of both Portugal and Spain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hydrangea macrophylla is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to an elevation of 2830 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, including coastal habitats where it can withstand the unique stressors of maritime climates. By occupying such a wide elevational gradient, the plant thrives in a variety of ecological niches, ranging from low-lying coastal zones to much higher montane regions.

Elevational range max:

2830 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Hydrangea macrophylla is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its survival through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are elevated above the ground surface on woody stems, a trait that defines its structural life form. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes. Its botanical classification as a phanerophyte is consistent across its life history stages, supporting its ability to maintain perennial growth patterns through its woody architecture.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hydrangea macrophylla is characterized by a woody, self-supporting growth habit, primarily manifesting as a shrub or subshrub. As a terrestrial plant, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, with individuals typically ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 3 meters, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 1.75 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.75 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological development of Hydrangea macrophylla is characterized by significant morphological variation in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its photosynthetic capacity and transpiration rates. The leaves exhibit a distinct obovate form, providing a broad surface area optimized for light interception. These leaves vary in dimensions according to environmental conditions and maturity, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. Concurrently, the leaf width displays considerable plasticity, fluctuating from a minimum of 5.5 cm to a mean of 10 cm, reaching a maximum width of 15 cm. This expansive leaf architecture, defined by these specific size parameters, facilitates the plant's metabolic processes and its ability to regulate moisture within its cellular structures.

Leaf form :

obovate

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

10 cm

Leaf width min:

5.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hydrangea macrophylla is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproductive system, which utilizes biotic pollination strategies specifically mediated by insects. The flowering period is extensive and variable, typically beginning in December and concluding in October. During this cycle, the plant produces flowers that exhibit a blue color, with individual flower lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm. Self-fertilization is noted as absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops fruits with a mean length of 0.5 cm. These fruits are highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds each, despite the seeds having a very small mean mass of 1e-05 g. The dispersal of these seeds is classified as unspecialized, though they are also subject to anthropochorous dispersal patterns.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

blue

Flower length max:

0.3 cm

Flower length min:

0.2 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit length mean:

0.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

1e-05 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hydrangea macrophylla has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Parasitology international
2. Acta medica Okayama

Chemicals

Hydrangea macrophylla has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Phyllodulcin.

Phyllodulcin

1. Scientific reports

Conditions

Hydrangea macrophylla has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium falciparum, malaria.

Plasmodium berghei

1. Acta medica Okayama

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Acta medica Okayama

Malaria

1. Acta medica Okayama

Preparations

Hydrangea macrophylla has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf-extract.

Leaf-extract

1. Acta medica Okayama