Hydrangea season passed — large leaves remain — but a late bloomer opens now.
Tama hydrangea — several plants bloom near Fujimi Yagura in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace south of Palaceside Building. Like lacecap but buds wrapped in firm bracts like round balls — hence the name. One imagines them popping open with a "pon."
Also called gyokudanka (jewel-tier flower). In Edo it was known thus; Siebold named tama hydrangea when he first published it to the world. Also gimbai-so, sawafutagi — now different plants share those old names.
The kanji "hydrangea" came from Tang poet Bai Juyi but was misapplied by Heian scholar Minamoto no Shitago. The Greek Hydrangea means "water vessel" for water uptake. Names shift like flower colors.