Hydrangea aspera villosa

At the beginning of the year this easterly edge of the Walled Garden boasted mauve lilac and now as August draws to a close it is mauve once again, this time with a beautiful Hydrangea aspera villosa. 


Hydrangeas are native to Japan.  The young leaves, when dried and rubbed between the hands, become very sweet and are used to make a sweet tea called 'tea of heaven', it is used in Buddhist ceremonies.