---
title: "Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea): names, synonyms, distribution and historic plates | Floreboard"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/plants/hydrangea-macrophylla/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-10
publisher: Floreboard (芳华绘)
---

Curtis's Botanical Magazine · 438 · 1799 · Sydenham Edwards · public domain

# Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser.

Bigleaf hydrangea · Hydrangeaceae

- **Accepted name:** Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser.
- **Published (this combination):** A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 4: 15 (1830)
- **Basionym:** Viburnum macrophyllum Thunb., J.A.Murray (ed.), Syst. Veg., ed. 14.: 295 (1784)
- **Genus:** [Hydrangea](https://floreboard.com/en/plants/hydrangea/) Gronov. ex L. · Hydrangeaceae
- **Common names:** bigleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea
- **Native range:** Japan, Kazan-retto
- **Introduced:** 31 regions
- **Databases:** [POWO](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:791637-1) · [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/n/791637-1) · [WCVP](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/2232/taxon/2855720) · [Catalogue of Life](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/3N4D6) · [GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/2985994)

## Identification

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub to 3 m with thick leaves 10–15 cm long. The terminal cyme is 10–20 cm across; wild plants carry both sterile flowers, largely made of about four petaloid sepals, and small fertile flowers.

## Names and synonyms

Thunberg first published it in 1784 as Viburnum macrophyllum, in the viburnum genus; Seringe moved it to Hydrangea in 1830, one reason the two plants’ names are still muddled in trade. WCVP lists more than 70 synonyms, including the Hortensia opuloides, Hydrangea hortensis and Hydrangea azisai of the old plates.

| Name | Published in |
| --- | --- |
| Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. | A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 4: 15 (1830) |
| Hortensia macrophylla (Thunb.) H.Ohba & S.Akiyama | J. Jap. Bot. 91: 346 (2016) |
| Viburnum macrophyllum Thunb. | J.A.Murray (ed.), Syst. Veg., ed. 14.: 295 (1784) |

76 heterotypic synonyms

| Hortensia japonica J.F.Gmel. | Syst. Nat., ed. 13[bis].: 722 (1791) |
| --- | --- |
| Hortensia macrophylla f. isobue (H.Ohba & S.Akiyama) H.Ohba & S.Akiyama | J. Jap. Bot. 91: 346 (2016) |
| Hortensia macrophylla f. isonotaki (H.Ohba & S.Akiyama) H.Ohba & S.Akiyama | J. Jap. Bot. 91: 346 (2016) |
| Hortensia macrophylla f. normalis (E.H.Wilson) H.Ohba & S.Akiyama | J. Jap. Bot. 91: 346 (2016) |
| Hortensia mutabilis Schneev. | Icon. Pl. Rar. (Haarlem): 36 (1793) |
| Hortensia nigra Carrière | Rev. Hort. (Paris) 52: 180 (1880) |
| Hortensia opuloides Lam. | Encycl. 3: 136 (1789) |
| Hortensia rosea Desf. | Tabl. École Bot.: 115 (1804) |
| Hortensia speciosa Pers. | Syn. Pl. 1: 505 (1805) |
| Hydrangea azisai Siebold | Nova Acta Phys.-Med. Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 14(2): 689 (1828) |
| Hydrangea azisai var. foliis-aureovariegatis Siebold & Zucc. | Fl. Jap. (Lugduni) 1: 105 (1839) |
| Hydrangea cyanoclada G.Nicholson | Hand-List Trees Shrubs 1[Polypet.]: 221 (1894) |
| Hydrangea florida Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 284 (1796) |
| Hydrangea hortensia Siebold | Nova Acta Phys.-Med. Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 14(2): 688 (1828) |
| Hydrangea hortensia f. otaksa (Siebold & Zucc.) Franch. & Sav. | Enum. Pl. Jap. 1: 152 (1873) |
| Hydrangea hortensia f. rosea Bean | Garden (London, 1871-1927) 50: 122 (1896) |
| Hydrangea hortensia f. variegata (E.J.Lowe & W.Howard) G.Nicholson | Ill. Dict. Gard. 2: 163 (1885) |
| Hydrangea hortensia var. azisai (Siebold) A.Gray | Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 312 (1857) |
| Hydrangea hortensia var. macrosepala (Regel) Rehder | L.H.Bailey, Cycl. Amer. Hort. 2: 785 (1900) |
| Hydrangea hortensia var. maculata (Blume) K.Koch | Hort. Dendrol.: 106 (1853) |
| Hydrangea hortensia var. mariesii Bean | Garden (London, 1871-1927) 54: 390 (1898) |
| Hydrangea hortensia var. otaksa (Siebold & Zucc.) A.Gray | Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 312 (1857) |
| Hydrangea hortensia var. rosea (Bean) J.H.Veitch | Hort. Veitch.: 368 (1906) |
| Hydrangea hortensis Sm. | Icon. Pict. Pl. Rar. 2: 12 (1792) |
| Hydrangea hortensis var. alba H.B.May | Gard. Chron., ser. 3, 45: 301 (1909) |
| Hydrangea hortensis var. maculata Blume | Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 920 (1826) |
| Hydrangea hortensis var. mariesii (Bean) Bean | Trees & Shrubs Brit. Isles 1: 625 (1914) |
| Hydrangea japonica f. hortensia Regel | Gartenflora 15: 290 (1866) |
| Hydrangea japonica fimbriata-macrophylla Jacob-Makoy | Nursery Cat. (L.Jacob-Makoy & Co.) 112: 31 (1868) |
| Hydrangea japonica speciosa Hovey | Nursery Cat. (Hovey & co.) 1882: 35 (1882) |
| Hydrangea japonica var. albovariegatis Van Houtte | Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 7: 139 (1851) |
| Hydrangea japonica var. coerulescens Regel | Gartenflora 15: 290 (1866) |
| Hydrangea japonica var. foliis-variegatis André | Pl. Feuill. Ornem.: 177 (1866) |
| Hydrangea japonica var. macrosepala Regel | Gartenflora 15: 290 (1866) |
| Hydrangea japonica var. otaksa Regel | Gartenflora 15: 290 (1866) |
| Hydrangea japonica var. plena Regel | Gartenflora 15: 290 (1866) |
| Hydrangea japonica var. variegata (E.J.Lowe & W.Howard) Regel | Gartenflora 15: 290 (1866) |
| Hydrangea japonica variegata E.J.Lowe & W.Howard | Beaut. Leaved Pl.: t. 25 (1860) |
| Hydrangea macrocephala Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 322 (1893) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. azisai (Siebold) E.H.Wilson | J. Arnold Arbor. 4: 240 (1923) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. caesia Nakai | Siebold Hydrang. Kaisetsu: 12 (1938) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. hortensia (Regel) Rehder | J. Arnold Arbor. 7: 240 (1926) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. isobue H.Ohba & S.Akiyama | Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., B. Bot. 40: 144 (2014) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. isonotaki H.Ohba & S.Akiyama | Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., B. Bot. 40: 144 (2014) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. leucantha Makino | Ill. Fl. Nippon: 483 (1940) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. macrosepala (Regel) E.H.Wilson | J. Arnold Arbor. 4: 240 (1923) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. maculata (Blume) E.H.Wilson | J. Arnold Arbor. 4: 241 (1923) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. mandschurica (Dieck) E.H.Wilson | J. Arnold Arbor. 4: 237 (1923) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. mariesii (Bean) E.H.Wilson | J. Arnold Arbor. 4: 241 (1923) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis (E.H.Wilson) H.Hara | J. Jap. Bot. 30: 277 (1955) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. nuda Konta & S.Matsumoto | Bull. Natl. Sci. Mus. Tokyo, B. Bot. 31: 23 (2005) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. otaksa (Siebold & Zucc.) E.H.Wilson | J. Arnold Arbor. 4: 237 (1923) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla f. veitchii E.H.Wilson | J. Arnold Arbor. 4: 237 (1923) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla var. hattoriana Kitam. | Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 26: 5 (1974) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla var. hortensis (Sm.) Rehder | Cycl. Amer. Hort. 2: 785 (1900) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla var. normalis E.H.Wilson | J. Arnold Arbor. 4: 234 (1923) |
| Hydrangea macrophylla var. otaksa (Siebold & Zucc.) Honda | Siebold Kenkyū: 546 (1938) |
| Hydrangea mandshurica Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 323 (1893) |
| Hydrangea maritima Haw.-Booth | Hydrangea: 38 (1950) |
| Hydrangea mutabilis Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. 1: 416 (1821) |
| Hydrangea nigra Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 187 (1893) |
| Hydrangea opuloides (Lam.) K.Koch | Dendrologie 1: 353 (1869) |
| Hydrangea opuloides f. macrosepala (Regel) Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 323 (1893) |
| Hydrangea opuloides var. azisai (Siebold) Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 322 (1893) |
| Hydrangea opuloides var. hortensia Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 322 (1893) |
| Hydrangea opuloides var. japonica C.K.Schneid. | Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. 1: 392 (1905) |
| Hydrangea opuloides var. mandschurica Dieck | Nursery Cat. (Dieck) 1885(Haupt-Kat.): 42 (1885) |
| Hydrangea opuloides var. mariesii (Bean) Rehder | L.H.Bailey, Stand. Cycl. Hort. 3: 1621 (1915) |
| Hydrangea opuloides var. otaksa (Siebold & Zucc.) Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 323 (1893) |
| Hydrangea opuloides var. plena Rehder | L.H.Bailey, Stand. Cycl. Hort. 3: 1621 (1915) |
| Hydrangea opuloides var. variegata (E.J.Lowe & W.Howard) Rehder | L.H.Bailey, Stand. Cycl. Hort. 3: 1622 (1915) |
| Hydrangea otaksa Siebold & Zucc. | Fl. Jap. (Lugduni) 1: 105 (1839) |
| Hydrangea sieboldii Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 323 (1893) |
| Hydrangea sinensis Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 322 (1893) |
| Macnemaraea opulina P.Willemet | Ann. Bot. (Usteri) 18: 34 (1796) |
| Primula mutabilis Lour. | Fl. Cochinch.: 104 (1790) |

## Distribution

WCVP records the species as native to 2 TDWG botanical regions and introduced in 31 more.

JapanKazan-retto

### Introduced

AlbaniaArkansasAssamAzoresBoliviaCanary Is.Central European RussiaChina South-CentralChina SoutheastCosta RicaEast HimalayaEcuadorFranceGermanyGreat BritainItalyJuan Fernández Is.KoreaMadeiraMauritiusMexico SouthwestNew Zealand NorthNew Zealand SouthPanamáPortugalRéunionSpainTrinidad-TobagoTristan da CunhaVenezuelaVietnam

## Historic plates and the names printed on them

Plates carry the name in use at the time. Using the WCVP synonymy and misapplied names, the table maps each printed name to the current species or subspecies.

Printed name · sourceCurrent nameHydrangea Hortensis（正文）Curtis's Botanical Magazine · 438 · 1799Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. WCVP synonym: Hydrangea hortensis Sm.Hortensia opuloidesFragmenta Botanica, figuris coloratis illustrata · T. 3 · 1800–1809Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. WCVP synonym: Hortensia opuloides Lam.Hydrangea AzisaiFlora Japonica · Tab. 51 · 1835–1870Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. WCVP synonym: Hydrangea azisai SieboldHydrangea HortensiaFavourite Flowers of Garden and Greenhouse · Pl. 90 · 1897Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. WCVP synonym: Hydrangea hortensia Siebold

## Native range and arrival in Europe

Wild bigleaf hydrangeas grow on the Pacific-side peninsulas of central Honshu, the Izu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands. In 1789 Sir Joseph Banks at Kew obtained a mophead now known as ‘Joseph Banks’; within ten years it was “very common” in Britain. Plate 438 of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine (1799) dates from this period.

## Further reading

- [Genus Hydrangea](https://floreboard.com/en/plants/hydrangea/)
- [Hydrangeas topic library (in Chinese)](https://floreboard.com/hydrangea/#flowers)
- [Flower guide](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/hydrangea/)
- [Reference library](https://floreboard.com/en/library/)

## References

- [WCVP · World Checklist of Vascular Plants (via ChecklistBank dataset 2232)](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/2232) · accessed 2026-10-20
- [Trees and Shrubs Online · Hydrangea macrophylla (Sutton 2025)](https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/hydrangea/hydrangea-macrophylla/)
- [iPlant (Institute of Botany, CAS) · Hydrangea macrophylla](https://www.iplant.cn/info/Hydrangea%20macrophylla)

Names, places of publication, synonyms and distribution checked against WCVP (2026-10-20); the text follows the cited sources and awaits specialist review.