The hydrangea has large, round flower heads in white, blue, pink and, towards autumn, antique tones of green and burgundy. It fills a lot of space with few stems, so it is useful for large churches and generous centrepieces. It is the signature flower of the gardens on Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.
Its weakness is thirst: once cut and out of water it wilts quickly, especially in the sun. It needs to be well hydrated and kept in water or with water sources, never in pieces that sit dry for hours. The guide to hydrangeas at your wedding explains care and tricks; the one on Lake Como describes their use in villa gardens; the one on flowers in June places them in the calendar.
What to ask: how it will be kept hydrated, how long it will sit in the sun, whether it is grown in Italy.
