Hydrangeas: Meaning, Colours and How to Keep Them Fresh
Quick answer: hydrangeas stand for gratitude and heartfelt feeling, which makes them a thoughtful gift for a thank-you, a new home or sympathy. To keep cut hydrangeas fresh, trim the stems at an angle, give them plenty of cool water, keep them out of direct sun and away from AC vents, and mist the petals. If the heads droop, submerge them in cool water for 30 to 60 minutes and most will perk up again.
With their big, cloud-like heads, hydrangeas make a room feel full and calm with just a few stems. They have almost no scent, so they suit offices, receptions and hospital visits too. Here is what they mean and how to look after them.
What do hydrangeas mean?
Hydrangeas are most often linked with gratitude, understanding and heartfelt emotion. Their generous, rounded blooms also suggest abundance. Florists usually choose the colour to match the message:
- White: purity, peace and respect. A calm choice for weddings and for sympathy.
- Blue: calm, gratitude and a sincere “thank you”.
- Pink: love and warm affection.
- Purple: admiration and a sense of occasion.
Why do hydrangeas change colour?
In the garden, the colour of the common bigleaf hydrangea depends on the soil. In acidic soil the flowers turn blue, and in alkaline soil they turn pink. White varieties stay white whatever the soil. Once cut, hydrangeas keep the colour they had when they were picked.
How to keep cut hydrangeas fresh
- Recut the stems. Trim 2 to 3 cm off each stem at a sharp angle, ideally under running water, before putting them in the vase.
- Give them lots of water. Hydrangeas are very thirsty. Fill the vase with cool, clean water and top it up every day.
- Mist the petals. Hydrangeas can take in water through their petals, so a light spray of water once or twice a day helps in air-conditioned rooms.
- Choose the right spot. Keep them out of direct sunlight, away from AC vents and away from fruit bowls, as ripening fruit shortens the life of cut flowers.
- Change the water often. In the UAE heat, change the water every one to two days and recut the stems each time.
How to revive a wilted hydrangea
Drooping heads are common, especially after a hot journey. Recut the stem, then submerge the whole flower head in a basin of cool water for 30 to 60 minutes. Shake off the excess water, put it back in a fresh vase and most heads will lift again within a few hours.
When to give hydrangeas
- To say thank you to a host, teacher or colleague.
- For offices and receptions, where a scent-free arrangement works best. See our guide to office and reception flowers.
- For sympathy, where white hydrangeas are a gentle, respectful choice. Read our sympathy flowers etiquette guide.
- For a new home or a new baby, in soft pink or blue.
Hydrangeas from 800petals
Choose Moonlight Bloom, a pure white hydrangea, or the Two Toned Hydrangea for more colour. Both are hand-arranged by expert florists and delivered across Sharjah, Dubai and the UAE.
Frequently asked questions
With fresh water, regular misting and a cool spot away from the sun, cut hydrangeas usually look their best for around a week.
Most often it is thirst or heat. Recut the stem and submerge the flower head in cool water for 30 to 60 minutes, then return it to a fresh vase away from sun and AC vents.
Very little, which makes them a good choice for offices, clinics, hospital visits and anyone sensitive to strong fragrances.
They struggle outdoors in the UAE summer heat. They are best enjoyed as cut flowers, or as potted plants kept in shade during the cooler months.
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