plant named ‘HP221903’

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘HP221903’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and rounded to conical plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; large rounded pyramidal to conical inflorescences with numerous yellow green to light greenish white-colored sterile flowers that become purplish red in the autumn; and good garden performance.

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Description

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HP221903’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘HP221904’

Inventor: Niels Arts

Filed: May 23, 2023

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘HP221905’

Inventor: Niels Arts

Filed: May 23, 2023

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant, Hydrangea Breeders Association B.V. of De Kwakel, The Netherlands, on Mar. 7, 2023, application number 2023/0569. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commercially referred to as a panicle Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HP221903’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and Lengerich, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and freely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong and sturdy stems, large inflorescences with numerous showy sterile flowers, attractive sterile flower color, high temperature tolerance and good garden performance.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2013 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, of Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP217901’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,307. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lengerich, Germany during the summer of 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since the spring of 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HP221903’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HP221903’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

    • 1. Relatively compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and rounded to conical plant habit.
    • 2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.
    • 3. Freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems.
    • 4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.
    • 5. Large rounded pyramidal to conical inflorescences with numerous yellow green to light greenish white-colored sterile flowers that become purplish red in the autumn.
    • 6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the parent, ‘HP217901’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘HP217901’ in flowering habit as plants of the new Hydrangea have more sterile flowers than inflorescences of plants of ‘HP217901’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP221904’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘HP221904’ in the following characteristics:

    • 1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are shorter and broader than plants of ‘HP221904’.
    • 2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than plants of ‘HP221904’.
    • 3. Plants of the new Hydrangea flower earlier than plants of ‘HP221904’.
    • 4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller inflorescences than plants of ‘HP221904’.
    • 5. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are pyramidal to conical in shape whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘HP221904’ are rounded conical in shape.
    • 6. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea have more fertile and sterile flowers than inflorescences of plants of ‘HP221904’.
    • 7. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller sterile flowers than plants of ‘HP221904’.
    • 8. Sterile sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are more white in color than sterile sepals of plants of ‘HP221904’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP221905’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘HP221905’ in the following characteristics:

    • 1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are taller than plants of ‘HP221905’.
    • 2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than plants of ‘HP221905’.
    • 3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea have more fertile and sterile flowers than inflorescences of plants of ‘HP221905’.
    • 4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller sterile flowers than plants of ‘HP221905’.
    • 5. Sterile sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea become purplish red in color in the autumn whereas sterile sepals of plants of ‘HP221905’ do not change color in the autumn.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP217902’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,332. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘HP217902’ in the following characteristics:

    • 1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than plants of ‘HP217902’.
    • 2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller inflorescences than plants of ‘HP217902’.
    • 3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are pyramidal to conical in shape whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘HP217902’ are broadly pyramidal in shape.
    • 4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea have more fertile and sterile flowers than inflorescences of plants of ‘HP217902’.
    • 5. Sepals of sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are whiter in color than sepals of sterile flowers of plants of ‘HP217902’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HP221903’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘HP221903’.

 DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the summer in 17-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Lengerich, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial panicle Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 15C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were 17 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

  • Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP221903’.
  • Parentage:
      • Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP217901’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,307.
      • Male, or pollen, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP217901’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,307.
  • Propagation:
      • Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.
      • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at temperatures about 23C.
      • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at temperatures about 18C.
      • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four weeks at temperatures about 23C.
      • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five weeks at temperatures about 18C.
      • Root description.—Thick; typically whitish brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
      • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.
  • Plant description:
      • Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and rounded to conical plant habit; strong and sturdy stems; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.
      • Plant height.—About 50 cm to 55 cm.
      • Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 57 cm to 62 cm.
  • Lateral branch description:
      • Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about 16 lateral branches develop per plant.
      • Length, stem axis to base of inflorescence.—About 50 cm.
      • Diameter.—About 6 mm to 7 mm.
      • Internode length.—About 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm.
      • Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.
      • Aspect.—Mostly upright.
      • Strength.—Strong, sturdy.
      • Color.—When developing: Close to 147B. Developed: Close to 177B. Lenticels: Close to 165C.
  • Leaf description:
      • Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.
      • Length.—About 9 cm to 10 cm.
      • Width.—About 4 cm to 5 cm.
      • Shape.—Ovate.
      • Apex.—Acute.
      • Base.—Obtuse.
      • Margin.—Serrulate.
      • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Rugose, prominent venation; pubescent.
      • Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
      • Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 146B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C.
      • Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.
  • Flower description:
      • Flower type and habit.—Small and inconspicuous fertile flowers and showy sterile flowers arranged on terminal panicles; fertile and sterile flowers round in shape; panicles pyramidal to conical in shape; fertile and sterile flowers face upright to outwardly depending on their position in the inflorescence.
      • Fragrance.—None detected.
      • Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 15 weeks after cold treatment; flowering begins in the early summer and is continuous throughout the summer in Northern Europe.
      • Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about one month on the plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers last about three months on the plant, sterile flowers persistent.
      • Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 300 to 400 fertile flowers develop per panicle and about 800 to 1,000 sterile flowers develop per panicle.
      • Panicle height.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.
      • Panicle diameter.—About 15 cm.
      • Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 145A.
      • Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 145A.
      • Fertile flower diameter.—About 2 mm to 2 mm.
      • Fertile flower depth (height).—About 2 mm.
      • Sterile flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.
      • Sterile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.
      • Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About five in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157D; color does not change with subsequent development.
      • Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157A; color does not change with subsequent development.
      • Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About five in a single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C; color does not change with subsequent development.
      • Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Elliptic to oval. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 157A; color becoming close to 64B to 64C in the autumn. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 157A; color becoming close to 64B to 64C in the autumn.
      • Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145D.
      • Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 80 to 90 degrees from branch axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 157A.
      • Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About nine to ten. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: Close to 157D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 0.5 mm to 1 mm. Stigma shape: Three-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 145C. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 145C.
      • Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About nine to ten. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: Close to 157D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: To date, pistil develop has not been observed on plants of the new Hydrangea.
      • Seeds, only produced by fertile flowers.—Quantity per fertile flower: About 20 to 30. Length: Less than 0.5 mm. Diameter: Less than 0.5 mm. Color: Close to 199A.
  • Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hydrangea grown under commercial production conditions have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants.
  • Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown to have good garden performance and to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about −38C to about 38C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HP221903’ as illustrated and described.

Patent History
Patent number: PP35700
Type: Grant
Filed: May 31, 2023
Date of Patent: Mar 19, 2024
Assignee: HYDRANGEA BREEDERS ASSOCIATION B.V. (De Kwakel)
Inventor: Niels Arts (Aalsmeer)
Primary Examiner: Keith O. Robinson
Application Number: 18/204,287
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Hydrangea (PLT/250)
International Classification: A01H 5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/48 (20180101);