A foretaste of summer, potted mophead hydrangeas are a popular houseplant gift choice in spring, making a beautiful alternative to cut flowers with their glossy dark green leaves and striking rounded flower heads. Although they’re best grown outdoors, mophead hydrangeas (the botanical name is Hydrangea macrophylla, and they’re also sometimes called hortensias) can be grown as houseplants for a time in spring, then moved outdoors when the weather warms up. If you’ve been given a potted hydrangea, here’s how to take care of it.