紫陽花(あじさい)

あじさい
noun
hydrangea
1. hydrangea
A flowering shrub with large, rounded clusters of flowers that bloom in various colors including blue, pink, purple, and white.
梅雨(つゆ)の季節(きせつ)には紫陽花(あじさい)が咲(さ)く。
Hydrangeas bloom during the rainy season.
紫陽花(あじさい)の花(はな)の色(いろ)は土(つち)の酸性度(さんせいど)で変(か)わる。
The color of hydrangea flowers changes depending on the soil's acidity.
鎌倉(かまくら)は紫陽花(あじさい)の名所(めいしょ)として有名(ゆうめい)だ。
Kamakura is famous as a hydrangea viewing spot.

The iconic flower of Japan's rainy season (梅雨(つゆ), June-July). Also written as アジサイ.

Flower color depends on soil pH:

  • 酸性(さんせい) (acidic soil) → 青(あお) (blue)
  • 中性(ちゅうせい)〜アルカリ性(せい) (neutral-alkaline) → ピンク/赤(あか) (pink/red)
  • 白(しろ) (white) varieties don't change

Famous viewing locations (名所(めいしょ)):

  • 鎌倉(かまくら) (長谷寺(はせでら), 明月院(めいげついん))
  • 箱根(はこね)
  • 京都(きょうと)

Cultural note: Hydrangeas symbolize the rainy season in art and literature. They appear frequently in 季語(きご) (seasonal words) for summer haiku.

Varieties:

  • 額(がく)紫陽花(あじさい) (lacecap hydrangea)
  • 西洋(せいよう)紫陽花(あじさい) (mophead hydrangea)
general
Added 2026.1.14 21:56 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
04500/04997_ajisai