Lynn

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Bailmer' (Endless Summer)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'Lynn' is shorter than the leaf blade of 'Bailmer'. The inflorescence of 'Lynn' is flattened in shape while the inflorescence of 'Bailmer' is globular. The inflorescence of 'Lynn' has a shorter height and larger diameter than the inflorescence of 'Bailmer'. The sepals on the sterile flower of 'Lynn' are purple red with violet along the margin and lighter purple red at the base while the sepals of 'Bailmer' are blue pink with violet along the margin and white at the base.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing, upright growth habit
STEM: no fasciation, green, medium number of red lenticels in spring

LEAF: no lobing, elliptic, medium length tip, acute and obtuse base, shallow to medium depth margin incisions, no variegation, medium green, moderate glossiness on upper side, weak blistering

INFLORESCENCE: early flowering, flattened shape, fertile flowers very conspicuous, sterile flowers in two or more whorls
STERILE FLOWER: single, weak to medium overlapping of sepals
STERILE FLOWER SEPALS : incisions present on margin of some sepals, newly opened sepals blue pink (RHS 64C) with light yellow (RHS 4D) at base, mature sepals purple red (RHS N57D) with violet (RHS 75A-B) along margins and undertones of purple red (RHS N57D) at base.

Origin & Breeding History: The hydrangea variety 'Lynn' originated from an open pollination made in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA in July 2003. The pollination was between the female parent 'Bailmer' and an unknown male parent. The new variety was selected from the progeny in May 2005, based on criteria for foliage colour, flowering on new growth without vernalization, inflorescence size and flower colour. Propagation by softwood cuttings was first conducted in June 2005 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Lynn' were conducted in a polyhouse and outdoors during the spring and summer of 2010 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate variety and 10 of the reference variety. All plants were grown from 10 cm rooted liners which were transplanted into 2 gallon containers on June 3, 2007 and in 3 gallon containers on June 2, 2008. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on May 31, 2010. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Lynn' with reference variety 'Bailmer'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Inflorescence height (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Colour of sepal on sterile flower (RHS)

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Hydrangea: 'Lynn' (left) with reference variety 'Bailmer' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'Lynn' (left) with reference variety 'Bailmer' (right)