plant named ‘H223914’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘H223914’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; relatively small mophead-type inflorescences with numerous sterile flowers that are bright pink in color; and good postproduction longevity.

Description

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘H223914’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘H223914’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new strong and freely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, uniform flowering habit, large inflorescences with numerous showy sterile flowers, attractive sterile flower color and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the spring of 2014 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 07-0122-028, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 05-0126-003, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands during the spring of 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since the summer of 2016 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 ‘H223914’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘H223914’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

• • 1. Relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded 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. Relatively small mophead-type inflorescences with numerous sterile flowers that are bright pink in color.
  • 6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller inflorescences than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are lighter pink in color than sterile flowers of plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘200749077’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,441. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘200749077’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of ‘200749077’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than plants of ‘200749077’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller leaves than plants of ‘200749077’.
  • 4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller inflorescences than plants of ‘200749077’.
  • 5. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea have more fertile and sterile flowers than inflorescences of plants of ‘200749077’.
  • 6. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller fertile and sterile flowers than plants of ‘200749077’.

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 of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘H223914’.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘H223914’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the spring and early summer in two-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 17 C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were 18 months old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea can be treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. 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 macrophylla ‘H223914’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 07-0122-028, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 05-0126-003, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at temperatures about 23 C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at temperatures about 20 C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four weeks at temperatures about 23 C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five weeks at temperatures about 20 C.
    • 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 and uniformly mounded plant habit; strong and sturdy stems; rapid growth rate and vigorous growth habit.
    • Plant height.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.
    • Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 45 cm to 50 cm.
• Lateral branch description:
  • • Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about 20 lateral branches develop per plant.
    • Length.—About 15 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 4 mm to 5 mm.
    • Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.
    • Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.
    • Aspect.—Upright to about 45 degrees from vertical.
    • Strength.—Strong, sturdy.
    • Color.—When developing: Close to 144A. Fully developed: Close to 199C.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.
    • Length.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.
    • Width.—About 4 cm to 5 cm.
    • Shape.—Ovate.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Obtuse.
    • Margin.—Serrate.
    • Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.
    • Texture, lower surface.—Rugose, glabrous.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147C.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower type and habit.—Small and inconspicuous fertile flowers and showy sterile flowers arranged on mophead-type terminal panicles; panicles upright and flattened globular in shape; fertile flowers face upright and sterile flowers face upright to outwardly depending on their position in the inflorescence.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Time to flowering.—Plants begin flowering about nine weeks after cold treatment.
    • Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about three months on the plant, fertile flowers persistent; sterile flowers last about three months on the plant, sterile flowers persistent.
    • Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 50 to 60 fertile flowers and about 80 to 100 sterile flowers per panicle.
    • Panicle height.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.
    • Panicle diameter.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.
    • Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 145C.
    • Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 145A.
    • Fertile flower diameter.—About 2 mm to 3 mm.
    • Fertile flower depth (height).—About 2 mm.
    • Sterile flower diameter.—About 2 cm.
    • Sterile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.
    • Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Width: About 2 mm to 3 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 145D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 75C; color does not change with subsequent development.
    • Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Width: About 1 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 145D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 69C; 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 145A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A; color does not change with subsequent development.
    • Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75B; color does not change with subsequent development; when “blued” with aluminum sulfate, color is close to 85A to 85B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 175C; color does not change with subsequent development.
    • Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Upright to 20 degrees from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 75A.
    • Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 40 degrees from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 75B.
    • Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About eight. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 75D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: Close to 75D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 145D. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.
    • Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Conical. Anther color: Close to 145D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 145D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.
    • Seeds, only produced by fertile flowers.—Quantity per fertile flower: About 20 to 30. Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.2 mm. Color: Close to 200C.
• 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 3 C to about 38 C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘H223914’ as illustrated and described.