Per the inventers patent application:
ABSTRACT
A new cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla named ‘Youme H1917’ that is char...Read Moreacterized by its free-flowering and re-blooming habit, and its large well-developed mop-head type inflorescences comprised of double sterile flowers with orbicular shaped sepals that are medium pink in color, and its fertile flowers that do not open.
"BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Youme H1917’. ‘Youme H1917’ represents a new bigleaf hydrangea, a perennial shrub grown for landscape use.
‘Youme H1917’ was derived from an ongoing controlled breeding program by the Inventor that focuses on developing new cultivars of bigleaf hydrangeas with unique flower colors and double flowers. ‘Youme H1917’ originated from a cross conducted in the Inventor's trial garden in June 1996 in Kyoto, Japan between an unnamed plant of Hydrangea macrophylla from the Inventor's breeding collection as the female parent and Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Yamaajisai’ (not patented) as the male parent. The new Hydrangea was selected as a unique single plant from the progeny of the cross in 2000.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood stem cuttings in Kyoto, Japan in 2000 by the Inventor. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Youme H1917’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla.
1. ‘Youme H1917’ exhibits double sterile flowers that are medium pink in color with sepals that are orbicular in shape.
2. ‘Youme H1917’ exhibits a free flowering and repeating blooming habit; blooming from early May through early October in The Netherlands.
3. ‘Youme H1917’ exhibits large well-developed mop-head type inflorescences.
4. ‘Youme H1917’ is sterile; fertile flowers do not open.
‘Youme H1917’ can be compared to its male parent, ‘Yamaajisai’, which differs from ‘Youme H1917’ in having smaller flowers, in having a smaller flatter formed inflorescence, and in having weaker stems. ‘Youme H1917’ can be compared to its female parent, which differs from ‘Youme H1917’ in having fertile flowers that open and in having smaller inflorescences. ‘Youme H1917’ can be most closely compared to the cultivars ‘FREEDOM’, ‘PERFECTION’ and ‘RIE 05. ‘FREEDOM’ differs from ‘Youme H1917’ in having whitish to light pink flowers. ‘PERFECTION’ differs from ‘Youme H1917’ in having inflorescences that are darker pink in color and in having sepals on the sterile flowers that are ovate in shape rather than orbicular. ‘RIE 05’ differs from ‘Youme H1917’ in having smaller flowers, smaller inflorescences, and flowers that are lighter pink in color.................
General description:
Blooming period.—Continuously from early May through October in The Netherlands.
Plant habit.—Broadly upright, deciduous shrub, sturdy, overall globular in shape.
Height and spread.—Average 30.4 cm in height and 61.7 cm in diameter.
Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.
Disease and pest resistance.—Not more susceptible or resistant to pests and diseases than other Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars.
Root description.—Fibrous, dense.
Growth and propagation:
Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.
Time required for root initiation.—About 4 weeks during the summer and 5 weeks during the winter at an average temperature of 18° C. (night)/20° C. (day).
Time required for root development.—About 3 months to fully develop as a young plant when grown under greenhouse conditions at an average temperature of 18° C. (night)/20° C. (day) in summer or 8° C. (night)/12° C. (day) in winter.
Time required to produce a salable crop.—About 12 months from propagation to a flowering plant.
Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate, approximately 10 cm per month in spring.
Per the inventers patent application:
ABSTRACT
A new cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla named ‘Youme H1917’ that is char...Read More