SMNHMP

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'SMNHML' (Wee Bit Giddy) and 'SMNHMSIGMA' (Let's Dance Rave)

Summary: The plants of 'SMNHMP' are taller than those of 'SMNHML'. The petiole of 'SMNHMP' is shorter than that of 'SMNHMSIGMA'. The leaf blade of 'SMNHMP' is larger than that of 'SMNHML' and shorter than that of 'SMNHMSIGMA'. The shape of the leaf blade of 'SMNHMP' is circular whereas that of both reference varieties are ovate to elliptic. The inflorescence of 'SMNHMP' is taller and larger in diameter than that of 'SMNHML'. The sterile flower of 'SMNHMP' has four and five sepals while that of 'SMNHMSIGMA' has seven or more sepals. The margin on the sepal of the sterile flower of 'SMNHMP' has incisions while that of both reference varieties do not. When fully opened, the sepals of the sterile flower of 'SMNHMP' are dark blue pink to medium purple red while those of 'SMNHMSIGMA' are lighter blue pink with lighter purple red tones.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, upright growth habit, as tall as broad

STEM: no fasciation, green, medium number of medium sized reddish lenticels

PETIOLE: green
LEAF BLADE: no lobing, circular shape, medium length tip, rounded base, medium depth margin incisions, no anthocyanin colouration, no variegation, medium green, no secondary colour, absent or weak to medium degree of glossiness of upper side, weak to medium degree of rugosity, flat in cross-section

INFLORESCENCE: globular shape, inconspicuous or slightly conspicuous fertile flowers
STERILE FLOWER: medium to dense, four and five sepals, strong overlapping of sepals
SEPALS OF STERILE FLOWER: pointed apex, absent or weak undulation, margin incisions on all sepals, medium depth margin incisions, medium purple red (closest to RHS 59D) when newly opened, dark blue pink to medium purple red (RHS 63A-B) when fully opened, dark blue pink to medium blue pink (RHS N66C-D) when aged, no secondary colour

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNHMP' originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred between the female parent variety 'Cityline Lisbon' and the male parent variety 'Wyatt LeFever' in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA in 2011. In 2014, a single unique plant was selected from the resulting progeny in Grand Haven, Michigan based on its flower quantity, stem strength and flower bud hardiness. Asexual reproduction of 'SMNHMP' was first conducted by softwood cuttings in 2014 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNHMP' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2022 at BioFlora, Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 shrubs each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from bare-rooted cuttings and transplanted into 13.6 litre containers on July 22, 2021. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety on May 30, 2022. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNHMP' with reference varieties 'SMNHML' and 'SMNHMSIGMA'

Natural plant height including inflorescence (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence height (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Main colour of sepal of sterile flower (RHS)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHMP' (left) with reference variety 'SMNHML' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHMP' (left) with reference variety 'SMNHMSIGMA' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHMP' (left) with reference varieties 'SMNHML' (centre) and 'SMNHMSIGMA' (right)