What is Hydrangea Serrata?
Hydrangea Serrata is a flowering plant species popularly known as tea heaven. Hydrangea Serrata is an ornamental plant found along the mountainous terrains of Korea and Japan. Because of its striking, beautiful flowering arrangement and bright color, it is used as beautification in and near homes and also in patios and terrains.
Appearance and Characteristics
It has similar characteristics to the big leaf Hydrangea macrophylla, but its physical shape and size are different. It is a smaller compact shrub with colorful flowers, opposite it to the macrophylla species.
Hydrangea Serrata has a deciduous shrub containing small oval leaves with blue and pink flowers that bloom in fall and summer. It can grow up to 2 to 4 feet tall and as a vast expanse in width unless it is winter or they were badly pruned. Hydrangea Serrata flowers are dull ovate leaves that grow as long as 6 inches and hold flowers that cluster in a lace cap form.
Hydrangea Serrata flowers are of two types and color—one has a color change depending on the acidic and alkaline content of the soil, while the other is indifferent. The pink flower variant turns pink in alkaline soils and turns blue in acidic soil, while the white variant is indifferent. The flower turns blue because of the presence of Anthocyanin Delphinidin 3- Monoglucoside, the binding of Aluminium Sulfate with the Anthocyanin gives the blue color.
Its fruits are non-showy capsule-like fruit with sterile outer flowers. It has simple, lanceolate foliage that is sometimes finely or coarsely serrated with hidden veins.
Quick summary
Botanical Plant Name: Hydrangea Serrata pronounced hye-DRAN-JA sir-ra-TA under a Family Hydrangeaceae
Native to: It is a native to the mountains of Korea and North Japan.
Care: Invest mulch to conserve the soil’s moisture and soil temperature. The soil should be watered every three-day interval or every week or until the soil looks dry. Using cultivars should be encouraged to prevent and resist pests and infections from occurring.
Size: Hydrangea Serrata grow as large as 2 to 4 feet and as well as 3 to 6 feet in width and height.
Common Problems: They attract insects like mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, and blackflies; they also cause a reaction to the bodies when ingested in large quantities.
Toxicity: Hydrangea Serrata is poisonous to humans and pets. Although its toxicity level is low, it has several damaging chemical agents like Hydragin and Cyanogenic glycoside that cause nausea, mild to severe stomach pain, excessive sweating, and indigestion that cause vomiting.
Related reads: Growing tips for Calathea Crocata
How to take care of Hydrangea Serrata
Hydrangea Serrata is perfect for home design although it requires moderate to complex maintenance.
Sunlight: It requires dappled sunlight, that is, sunlight provided under the shade of a canopy. In tropical areas with high sunlight intensity, it requires 4 to 6 hours, and in subtle sunlight, 4 to 8 hours is recommended.
Watering: It is recommended to water twice a week or once a week to avoid flooding the soil. Ensure to prevent over-watering as it causes root rot, and under-watering causes dry and sunken leaves.
Humidity & Temperature: The humidity level of Hydrangea Serrata requires middle to high moisture content. In arid areas with little moisture content, humidifiers are recommended, or constant hydration of the plants can also suffice.
Hydrangea Serrata needs a temperature range of 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit to properly grow; any temperature lower than the range becomes unsuitable for the plant.
Cleaning: Hydrangea Serrata rarely gets dirty but can be cleaned with a dry clean towel to wipe off the dust and grime on the leaves and flowers.
Fertilizing & soil: It is best grown in neutral or slightly acidic soils—the soil’s acidic level should be less than 6.0, and the neutral level must range between 6.0 and 8.0. The soil must be rich in nutrient and moisture content; it must be well-aerated and well-drained. It prefers fertilizers that can be assimilated slowly by the roots.
Related reads: Why testing soil pH is important
Repotting: Before repotting, ensure the next container is twice as large as the initial to provide room for growth. After setting up the soil mixture in the container, ensure the plant’s root is soaked in water to provide moisture. Slightly air dry the roots before placing them in the container, fill up the container with a well-aerated, well-drained compost soil, and slow-release fertilizers.
Plant recommendation tip: does your home need a more life, then check out the viney Glacier pothos.
How and When to Prune Hydrangea Serrata
Pruning Hydrangea Serrata requires care and attention because of its small size. Use short shears or secateurs to encourage better regrowth to remove dead or yellow leaves and the plant’s vestigial parts.
Ensure the cutting tools are clean and sterilized to avoid infection. Make the cutting and incision clean and sharp, rather than blunt and uneven. It is also best to prune from late winters to early spring as the weather supports growth.
Problems with Hydrangea Serrata
Hydrangea Serrata is slightly poisonous and causes severe stomach ache, vomiting, nausea, and excessive sweating if the barks or plants are ingested. It attracts insects like bees and aphids.
Hydragea Serrata is also susceptible to powdery mildew and suffers from Hydrangea rust. They get affected by diseases easily by having brown spots and yellowing leaves.
How to propagate?
Propagating Hydrangea Serrata requires taking the stem cuttings at the proper season of the year. Take the softwood cuttings in early summer for propagation. However, the best time to take the cuttings is in Spring, when the plants are producing new leaves.
Dip the ends into a rooting gel that facilitates growth and insert the cuttings into a sterile soil mixture. Water well, but do not make the soil soggy to avoid rot. They can also be grown in a greenhouse and transferred when the seedlings are big enough.
Plant recommendation tip: does your home need a dark green plant, then check out the Ficus lyrata.
Common FAQs
What is so special about Hydrangea Serrata?
They are colorful and beautiful and are perfect for outdoor decorations; they are also resistant to severe wind changes. The leaves can make exotic teas and, when distilled, it makes a perfect sweetener.
In Japan, Hydrangea Serrata teas are called Amacha and are used for the celebration of the birth of Buddha, while in Korea, it is called Sugukcha.
Are Hydrangea Serrata good indoor plants?
Although Hydrangea Serrata has all the characteristics of a perfect ornamental plant, it has some flaws that should be considered before it is tagged the perfect indoor plant. It attracts bees and aphids, and it is toxic, causing temporary discomfort if the leaves, barks, and flowers are ingested. It is also susceptible to harbor powdery mildew, bud blight, and bacterial wilt.
It is best used as an ornamental plant to decorate the home outdoors such as the patio, and will make a perfect addition for Landscape Garden themes like Asia and Cottage.
Can a Hydrangea Serrata plant live in low light?
Yes, Hydrangea Serrata can survive in low light as long as they receive sunlight 2 to 6 hours a day, and all other necessary factors of growth are supplied.
Summary
Hydrangea Serrata serves as the perfect houseplant, although it has its disadvantages. It is perfect for homeowners that can spare a lot of time towards its growth. For indoor cultivation and ornamental use, cultivars will help resist insect infestation and infections.