NCHA6

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'NCHA7' (Invincibelle Mini Mauvette)

Summary: The leaf blade tip of 'NCHA6' is of medium length whereas it is long for 'NCHA7'. The number of inflorescences per plant of 'NCHA6' is greater than that of 'NCHA7'. The sepal of the calyx of the sterile flower of 'NCHA6' is longer than that of 'NCHA7'.

Description:

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

STEM: no fasciation, green, absent or few lenticels in autumn

PETIOLE: green with some red
LEAF BLADE: short to medium length, narrow to medium width, no lobing, ovate shape, medium length tip, rounded base, deep margin incisions, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, no variegation, medium green, no secondary colour, absent or weak glossiness of upper side, medium degree of rugosity, flat in cross-section

FLOWERING: begins mid to late season
INFLORESCENCE: globular shape, inconspicuous or slightly conspicuous fertile flowers
CALYX: small to medium sized diameter
STERILE FLOWER: three and four sepals, weak overlapping of sepals, dark purple (RHS 59C) outer side
SEPALS OF STERILE FLOWER: semi-erect attitude, pointed to rounded apex, absent or very weak rugosity, flat in cross-section, absent or weak undulation, no margin incisions, mainly light violet (RHS 75C) with medium brown purple (RHS 186B) throughout aging to more light violet (RHS 75C) throughout, dark purple (RHS 71A) along margin, no secondary colour
PETAL OF FERTILE FLOWER: pink

Origin & Breeding History: 'NCHA6' originated from a controlled cross conducted between the female parent variety 'H2009-068-007' and the male parent variety 'H2008-143-001', at North Carolina State University's Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station in Mills River, North Carolina, USA in the summer of 2011. In the spring of 2012, a single unique plant was selected from the resulting progeny in Mills River, North Carolina, USA based on its compact growth habit, mophead type flowers, sepal colour and flowering season length. Asexual reproduction of 'NCHA6' was first conducted by stem cuttings in the spring of 2012 in Mills River, North Carolina, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'NCHA6' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2022 at BioFlora, Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from 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 July 25, 2022. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'NCHA6' with reference variety 'NCHA7'

Number of inflorescences per plant

Sepal length of the calyx of the sterile flower (cm)

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Hydrangea: 'NCHA6' (left) with reference variety 'NCHA7' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'NCHA6' (left) with reference variety 'NCHA7' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'NCHA6' (left) with reference variety 'NCHA7' (right)