HBA1701

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Doris' and 'Renate Steiniger'

Summary: 'HBA1701' has medium incisions of the leaf blade margin while those of 'Doris' are fine. 'HBA1701' has a smaller inflorescence diameter and weaker colour intensity of the large calyx than 'Doris'. The upper side of the large calyx of 'HBA1701' is blue pink fading to light blue pink towards the base while it is purple red aging to blue pink for 'Doris' and blue pink with a lighter blue pink margin for 'Renate Steiniger'. Incisions of the sepal margins of the large calyx of 'HBA1701' are present on all sepals while for 'Doris' they are absent on all sepals. The shape of the incisions of the sepal margins in the large calyx is serrate for 'HBA1701' while it is crenate for 'Renate Steiniger'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit
STEM: strong specks of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF BLADE: medium green on upper side, no variegation, weak glossiness on upper side, weak anthocyanin colouration along margin edge, ranges between elliptic and obovate shape, acuminate apex, ranges between acute and oblique base, no lobing, medium type incisions of margin
PETIOLE: weak anthocyanin colouration

INFLORESCENCE: flowers with small calyx are inconspicuous, dome shape
PEDUNCLE: weak anthocyanin colouration
LARGE CALYX (STERILE FLOWER): weak to moderate colour intensity, upper side is blue pink (RHS 65A) with light blue pink (RHS 65B-C) towards base, four to five sepals per flower, strong overlapping of sepals, serrate incisions of margin present on all sepals

Origin & Breeding History: 'HBA1701' was developed by the breeder, Niels Arts, in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objectives of his breeding program were to create new Hydrangea varieties with attractive flower colour and no requirement for vernalization. 'HBA1701' originated from a cross conducted in July 1999 between the female parent designated '98122-05' and the male parent designated '98002'. 'HBA1701' was selected by the breeder in March 2001 in Glandorf, Germany. Asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings was first conducted in March 2003 in Glandorf, Germany.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'HBA1701' were conducted in a polyhouse in spring 2009 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 plants of the candidate variety and reference variety 'Doris' and 2 plants of reference variety 'Renate Steiniger'. All plants were grown from cuttings rooted April 2008 and transplanted into 15 cm pots in May 2008. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on May 20, 2009. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour charts.

Comparison tables for 'HBA1701' with reference varieties 'Doris' and 'Renate Steiniger'

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Colour of large calyx (RHS)

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Hydrangea: 'HBA1701' (left) with reference varieties 'Doris' (centre) and 'Renate Steiniger' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'HBA1701' (left) with reference varieties 'Doris' (centre) and 'Renate Steiniger' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'HBA1701' (left) with reference varieties 'Doris' (centre) and 'Renate Steiniger' (right)