Is easily propagated by parting its roots the latter end of October, prefers a moist soil, but will grow in a dry one; if in severe frosts the stalks, which are rather soft, should be killed, new ones will be put up the following Spring. [438] [Illustration: Nº. 438] Hydrangea Hortensis. Garden Hydrangea. HYDRANGEA _hortensis_ foliis ellipticis serratis glaberrimis staminibus æqualibus. _Smith icon. rar. t. 12._ HORTENSIA. _Commmers. Jussieu Gen. 214._ PRIMULA _mutabilis_ caule suffruticoso multiplici, foliis ovatis serratis, floribus nudis. _Loureir Coch. Chin. v. 1. p. 104._ VIBURNUM _tomentosum_ foliis ovatis acuminatis serratis venosis subtus tomentosis, umbellis lateralibus. _Thunb. Jap. p. 123. ?_ SAMBUCUS aquatica surculis pinguibus punctatis, &c. Sijo vulgo Adsai et Ansai et Adsiki. _Kæmpf. Am. Exot. p. 854._ var. fl. albo, pila florida major. It appears to be a point not yet fully determined, whether the present plant exhibits the appearances belonging to it in a state of nature, or those which are in a certain degree the effect of accident, or of art; in its fructification it certainly is not so completely barren as the Guilder Rose, _Viburnum Opulus_, cultivated in our gardens, since it has most of its parts perfect; yet as none of the authors who have seen it in China or Japan (where it is said not only to be much cultivated but indigenous[1]) describe its fruit, we are inclined on that account to regard it, in a certain degree, as monstrous. It will appear by the synonyms, that authors have entertained very different opinions as to what this plant really is; Jussieu following Commerson makes it an _Hortensia_, Thunberg a _Viburnum_, Loureiro, ridiculously enough, a _Primula_, and Dr. Smith an _Hydrangea_.