Hydrangea and Morning Glory, Two Flowers of the Japanese Summer

Japanese people are famous for loving and admiring flowers in spring, during which they gather in parks all over the country to enjoy hanami, or cherry blossom viewing.

However, this appreciation for flowers does not stop there, and Japanese people observe the blooming of flowers every season. During summer, they especially appreciate two sorts: hydrangea (ajisai in Japanese) and morning glory (asagao in Japanese).

Hydrangea, the Flower of the Japanese Rainy Season

Hydrangea is an iconic flower of the rainy season, which takes place from May to July. During the rainy season, there is often constant rainfall all day long. There is always a time when it gets really hot in the middle of the season, and occasionally, storms come at the end. The rain is great for plants, giving them a more vivid color.

The Japanese hydrangea are an original species and are often blue in color. But if you look carefully, you will realize that the color of the flowers actually varies from pink to blue, even though it is the same type of hydrangea. Why is that?

When the soil is acidic, it blooms blue, and when the soil is alkaline, it blooms pink. Hydrangea has a pigment called anthocyanin, and the color will differ according…