Hydrangea macrophylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to Japan. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2 m (7 ft) tall by 2.5 m (8 ft) broad with large heads of pink or blue flowers in summer and autumn. Common names include bigleaf hydrangea, French hydrangea, lacecap hydrangea, mophead hydrangea, and hortensia. It is widely cultivated in many parts of the world in many climates. It is not to be confused with H. aspera 'Macrophylla'.
Hydrangea macrophylla
Close-up on a flower showing coloured sepals around the five petals.
Bud and leaves
'Taube' lacecap
Hydrangeaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Cornales, with a wide distribution in Asia and North America, and locally in southeastern Europe.
Image: Hydrangea macrophylla Bigleaf hydrangea 2
Image: Fendlera rupicola var. rupicola (19362832713)
Hydrangea hydrangeoides, a member of the now-synonymised genus Schizophragma