SMNHPPH

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Limelight'

Summary: The plants of 'SMNHPPH' have an upright growth habit and are shorter than those of 'Limelight', which have a semi-upright growth habit. The petiole of 'SMNHPPH' is shorter than that of 'Limelight'. The leaf blade of 'SMNHPPH' is smaller than that of 'Limelight'. In cross-section, the leaf blade of 'SMNHPPH' is concave while that of 'Limelight' is flat. The inflorescence of 'SMNHPPH' is shorter and smaller in diameter than that of 'Limelight'.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, upright growth habit, broader than tall

STEM: no fasciation, green with some red, few to medium number of medium sized whitish lenticels

PETIOLE: green
LEAF BLADE: no lobing, ovate shape, short tip, obtuse base, medium depth margin incisions, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, no variegation, medium green, no secondary colour, absent or weak glossiness of upper side, weak rugosity, concave in cross-section

INFLORESCENCE: globular to conical shape, inconspicuous or slightly conspicuous fertile flowers, no pink or red colour at aging
STERILE FLOWER: medium density, three and four sepals, absent or weak overlapping of sepals
SEPALS OF STERILE FLOWER: horizontal attitude, rounded apex, absent or weak rugosity, flat in cross-section, absent or weak undulation, no margin incisions, white (RHS 155A) with light green (RHS 145C), less green with age, no secondary colour

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNHPPH' originated from an open-pollinated cross that occurred between the female parent variety 'SMHPZIND' and pollen from an unknown male parent in the summer of 2012 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. In the summer of 2014, a single unique plant was selected from the resulting progeny in Grand Haven, Michigan based on its compact plant growth habit, stem strength, leaf colour and autumn flower colour. Asexual reproduction of 'SMNHPPH' was first conducted by softwood cuttings in 2014 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNHPPH' 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 variety. 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 August 2, 2022 for plant and inflorescence characteristics, and August 14, 2022 for leaf characteristics. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNHPPH' with reference variety 'Limelight'

Natural plant height including inflorescence (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence height (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHPPH' (left) with reference variety 'Limelight' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHPPH' (left) with reference variety 'Limelight' (right)