Hortensia is an ornamental plant, distinguished by beautiful, ball-shaped flowers that bloom on small shrubs. Hydrangea is native to Asia, but now its garden and potted varieties are cultivated in Europe as well. It owes its name to the French botanist, Philibert Commerson, who named the flower in honor of his beloved Hortense Barrét. The Latin name of hortensia, Hydrangea macrophylla, can be translated literally as "water pot". Indeed, hydrangea shrubs of pink, red, blue and purple inflorescences prefer moist soil.
