By flower · summer
Hydrangeas: the blue flower of Boyfriend Day
One of the few truly blue flowers, and the one that changes color depending on the soil. What it means, when it is in season and the trick to revive it in minutes.
- Scientific name
- Hydrangea macrophyllafrom Japan and China
- Season
- June to Septemberin Spain; December to February in the Southern Cone
- Meaning
- Gratitudeand heartfelt emotions
- Vase life
- 5 to 10 daysit also drinks through its petals
What it means to give hydrangeas
The hydrangea is associated with gratitude and heartfelt emotions: it is a way of saying “thank you for understanding me”. In Japan, where it is called ajisai, it is the flower of the June rainy season and of temples that fill with blue. The color changes the nuance:
- Blue: calm, trust and loyalty. It is the star flower of Boyfriend Day.
- Pink: affection and gentle romance.
- White: purity; very popular at weddings.
- Purple: admiration, a good choice for purple flowers day.
The flower that changes color
The same hydrangea plant can produce blue or pink flowers depending on where it grows. In acidic soils the plant can absorb aluminum from the soil and its flowers come out blue; in alkaline soils the aluminum is locked up and they come out pink. That’s why blue ones are common in northern Spain, with its acidic soils, and pink ones in areas with limestone soil. Gardeners play with this by adding aluminum sulfate or lime. White hydrangeas don’t change.
When hydrangeas are given
Ever since Boyfriend Day became the answer to yellow flowers, the blue hydrangea has been the most sought-after flower in early October:
| Date | What is celebrated and why | Flower | Color | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| every year | Boyfriend Day (Día del Novio) It was born in 2014 as #NationalBoyfriendDay and in Latin America it became the answer to yellow flowers: blue flowers and bouquets made of Hot Wheels cars wrapped in paper and ribbons. | Blue flowers or a Hot Wheels bouquet | Blue | Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Spain |
| every year | International Men’s Day It has been celebrated since 1999. On social media the idea that men deserve flowers too became popular: blue roses, sunflowers or Hot Wheels bouquets to break the habit of only giving flowers to women. | Blue flowers, sunflowers or Hot Wheels | Blue | Latin America, especially on social media |
| 3rd Sunday of June | Father’s Day The US date, which spread to almost all of Latin America. Flowers for dad are gaining ground thanks to the “men deserve flowers too” trend: sunflowers, blue tones or a plant for the office. | Sunflowers, blue flowers or a plant | Blue | Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, USA and more |
It also works as a thank-you gift, for Father’s Day or as a potted plant for someone who is moving house.
Hydrangea season
It is a summer flower. On October 3 it is at the end of its season in the northern hemisphere, and in the south it hasn’t started yet, so many of those sold that day come from greenhouses or from Colombia, which grows them all year:
- Spain: June, July, August, September.
- Mexico and Central America: June, July.
- Argentina, Chile and Uruguay: January, February, December.
In Argentina, Chile and Uruguay they bloom right in December and are part of the landscape of the southern Christmas.
How to care for cut hydrangeas
- Cut the stem at an angle and, if it’s woody, make a small 2 cm vertical cut at the base so it absorbs water better.
- Plenty of water: its scientific name, Hydrangea, means something like “water vessel”. Top up the vase every day.
- Mist the petals with water: hydrangeas also drink through their flowers.
- Away from heat: it is one of the first flowers to dry out with the heating on or in direct sun.
Revival trick: if it has wilted, submerge the whole head in a bowl of fresh water for 30 to 60 minutes. In most cases it firms up again.
Dried hydrangeas
At the end of summer, when the flowers start taking on green and ochre tones on the plant, they can be cut and left to dry in a vase with very little water. They last for months and are one of the prettiest autumn decorations.
Remind me 3 days before
Download the reminder and open it with your phone’s calendar: it repeats every year and alerts you three days before, so you have time to order the bouquet.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to give hydrangeas?
Gratitude, heartfelt emotions and abundance. The blue one is also associated with calm and loyalty, which is why it fits Boyfriend Day and Father’s Day.
Why are hydrangeas blue or pink?
It depends on the soil. In acidic soils the plant absorbs aluminum and the flower comes out blue; in alkaline soils it comes out pink. White ones don’t change.
How do you revive a wilted hydrangea?
Submerge the whole flower head in fresh water for 30 to 60 minutes, trim the stem and put it back in the vase. It usually recovers.
Which blue flowers are given on October 3?
Hydrangeas, dyed blue roses, delphinium, agapanthus, iris or blue lisianthus. Hydrangea is the easiest to find and gives the most volume.
When is hydrangea season?
In Spain, from June to September. In Argentina and Chile they bloom in December and are a typical flower of the southern-hemisphere Christmas.
