Where do hydrangeas come from?

Hydrangeas originally come from Asia. We know from fossil remains that plants existed here 140 million years ago. The plant has been used in gardens for centuries in China and Japan. Europe was introduced to the first hydrangeas in around 1735. Fun Fact: the Latin name Hydrangea contains the word Hydra - which means water. Hydrangeas love water, but just the right amount. They love moist soil, but do not want to sit in a puddle of water or be planted in poorly drained soils.