So Beautiful Ashy Hydrangea Flower
Ashy Hydrangea: A Graceful Southern Beauty
The Ashy Hydrangea, scientifically known as Hydrangea cinerea, is a graceful and lesser-known deciduous shrub that adds quiet elegance to the woodlands of the southeastern United States. With its soft gray-green foliage, charming domes of creamy-white flowers, and impressive resilience, this native species has begun to gain recognition among native plant enthusiasts and ecological gardeners.
Botanical Profile
Common Name: Ashy Hydrangea
Scientific Name: Hydrangea cinerea
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Type: Deciduous shrub
Native Range: Southeastern United States — especially the Ozarks, Appalachians, and parts of the Mississippi Valley
Habitat: Woodland slopes, rocky outcrops, dry forests, and shaded hillsides
Description and Characteristics
Foliage:The name “ashy” refers to the distinctive ashen or grayish hue of the underside of the leaves, which are coated in tiny, dense hairs. The leaves themselves are broadly ovate and arranged oppositely along the stems. Their soft, velvety texture and muted tone offer an appealing contrast to the vivid greens of surrounding vegetation.
Flowers:The Ashy Hydrangea blooms in summer, typically from June to July. Its inflorescences are flat-topped cymes, bearing both fertile and sterile flowers. While the showy sterile flowers are fewer than in ornamental varieties like Hydrangea macrophylla, the flower clusters still have a simple beauty that is appreciated in naturalized landscapes. The blossoms are typically white or pale cream, sometimes with a slight blush of pink as they mature.
Size:Ashy Hydrangea typically grows to a height of 3 to 6 feet, with a spread of about the same. Its modest size and bushy growth habit make it ideal for understory planting.
| Device | cannon eos 700D |
|---|---|
| Lens | 55-250 zoom leans |
| Location | Bangladesh |
