Is Endless Summer Hydrangea an herbaceous or a woody plant?
This article introduces the difference between whether Endless Summer Hydrangea is an herbaceous or woody plant and related information about the green plant flowers, such as the distinctions between Endless Summer and common hydrangeas. Keep reading!
Throughout the long summer, in addition to roses, there is a type of flower that can accompany us in watching the gentle flow of water until the cool weather arrives - none other than the full and large hydrangeas.
One of the popular variants of hydrangeas is called Forever Summer or Endless Summer, which is a fitting name for the summer flowers. It blooms throughout the entire summer with a long flowering period, as if it has paused time.
Hydrangeas are full and three-dimensional, noble and bright, and also come in the currently popular Morandi color scheme. Many people mistakenly think of them as a courtyard flower species from Europe. In fact, this native Chinese plant has only a history of about 200 years in Europe. Strictly speaking, the hydrangeas promoted by Europe are herbaceous geraniums, also known as the common garden hydrangeas, while the hydrangeas praised by scholars throughout history and mentioned in ancient poems are mainly woody, taller and more primitive.
If one is still intoxicated and confused about the origin of the herbaceous hydrangea, there will be no more doubts upon seeing the woody hydrangea tree. If one happens to encounter the blossoming time in the late spring, it can be truly described as:
High branches weighed down by rain press against the carved balustrade, a thousand flowers gathered in a cluster of white jade.
Its fragrant heart confuses the spring, who rolls up the curtain to gaze at the moon?
— Xie Zhen, "Hydrangea Flower" from the Ming Dynasty
Although Endless Summer is as dreamlike and illusions, in front of the mother plant of hydrangeas, the classical and elegant ice-clear and jade-pure appearance can easily outshine it. As the saying goes, "The scent of poetry and books naturally makes one elegant," the refinement of time and history is the same. The color changes from pink to light blue or lavender also seem to fade a bit, showing submission and respect.
Romantic people would fondly believe that hydrangeas are native to China. Haven't you seen the ancient "hydrangea marriage proposal"?
Is Endless Summer Hydrangea an herbaceous or a woody plant?
But the problem is, this hydrangea is not that hydrangea. More than 2000 years ago, hydrangeas were a type of bronze weapon called "feiduo," which left no grass growing in its wake, making it a "lethal weapon" of the cold weapon era. It is said that "throwing hydrangeas" is related to the customs of the Zhuang nationality, and it has been around since the Song and Yuan dynasties. Until today, the Zhuang people still retain this traditional sport. The town of Jiusi (formerly known as "Naqian"), known as the "home of hydrangeas," has a history of at least 2300 years and has become a "living museum" of the Zhuang nationality and a tourist destination.
When the Tang Dynasty poet Liu Zongyuan was demoted to Liuzhou, he saw the local Zhuang young men and women throwing (feiduo-shaped绣花 cloth bags filled with cotton seeds, rice husks, and grains, and hand-embroidered with some auspicious patterns) for entertainment. It is rumored that he wrote the line "Men and women separately play ball games." Sang Yue also mentioned in his "Six Poems on Zhuang Customs" during the Zhengde era: "Neighbors helping each other to welcome ghosts, men and women separately play ball games," recording the custom of throwing hydrangeas among the Zhuang people in Liuzhou.
By the Song Dynasty,绣花 cloth bags gradually turned into "five-color balls," and throwing hydrangeas became part of the festival rituals. Whenever the bronze drums sounded, the five-color balls were thrown and danced. The poet Zhu Fu recorded in "Xi Man Cong Xiao": "Local customs have several days of the New Year celebration, with men and women in the fields divided into two teams, throwing and catching colorful bags filled with beans and grains, known as feiduo."
From the weapon "feiduo" to the throwing of hydrangeas, whether it is the exhilaration of victory and national defense or the unrestrained joy in games and rituals, it seems to be a tradition of extreme happiness.
Although this hydrangea has no direct relationship with that hydrangea, our love for hydrangea flowers is the same - loving the full and vibrant symbolism behind it, which signifies completeness, happiness, loyalty, and hope...