August 2026

LATIN NAME: Hydrangea aspera ‘Kawakamii’
COMMON NAME: Rough-leaved hydrangea Kawakami Group
FAMILY: Hydrangeaceae
TYPE: Deciduous shrub
ORIGIN: Taiwan
GARDEN USES: Woodland Garden
LOCATION AT THE RESERVE: Birch Garden
FUN FACT: These elegant lacecap flowerheads attract a wide variety of pollinators, which are often found exploring the cluster of deep violet fertile florets at the center. Their vivid color stands out beautifully against the ring of showy sterile white florets. This cultivar commemorates Takiya Kawakami (1871–1915), a Japanese botanist for the Government of Formosa, now Taiwan.
–Content by Gardens North Manager Sean Peterson