SMHMES14

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Nikko Blue' and 'Robert' (Let's Dance Moonlight)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'SMHMES14' is broader than the leaf blade of both reference varieties, 'Nikko Blue' and 'Robert'. When the sterile flower is newly open, the inner side of the sepal is purple red with yellow green at the very base for 'SMHMES14' while the inner side of the sepal is light blue pink with light blue violet at the base for 'Nikko Blue' and blue pink with yellow green to light yellow at the base for 'Robert'. When the sterile flower is fully open, the inner side of the sepal is blue pink with darker blue pink tones for 'SMHMES14' while the inner side of the sepal is light blue violet with light blue pink tones for 'Nikko Blue' and blue pink with darker blue pink tones for 'Robert'. When the sterile flower is aged, the inner side of the sepal is blue pink to light blue pink for 'SMHMES14' while the inner side of the sepal is light blue violet for 'Nikko Blue' and light blue pink for 'Robert'.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, upright growth habit
STEM: no fasciation, green with spots of strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, white lenticels

LEAF BLADE: no lobing, elliptic shape, medium length of tip, obtuse base, shallow to medium depth of incisions of margin, no variegation, medium green on upper side, medium intensity of glossiness on upper side, medium strength of blistering

INFLORESCENCE: globular shape, inconspicuous or slightly inconspicuous fertile flowers
STERILE FLOWER: single type, strong degree of overlapping of sepals
STERILE FLOWER SEPAL: incisions of margin absent, inner side is purple red (RHS 63A) with yellow green (RHS 1D) at very base when flower is newly open, inner side is blue pink (RHS 63C) with darker blue pink (RHS 63B) tones when flower is fully open, inner side is blue pink to light blue pink (RHS 63C-D) when flower is aged, no secondary colour on inner side
FERTILE FLOWER: pink with green on inner side of petal

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMHMES14' was bred and developed by the breeder, Timothy D. Wood, of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. It originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred during the summer of 2003 between the variety 'Bailmer' as the female parent and an unknown male parent. 'SMHMES14' was selected in May 2005 for its early flowering, blooms on new wood without vernalization, appearance of the inflorescence, stem colour and plant vigour. Asexual reproduction of 'SMHMES14' by softwood cuttings was first conducted in June 2005, in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'SMHMES14' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2014 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. It included a total of 10 shrubs each of the candidate and reference varieties. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 13.5 litre containers on June 19, 2013. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 shrubs or parts of shrubs of each variety on May 27, 2014. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMHMES14' with reference varieties 'Nikko Blue' and 'Robert'

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of inner side of sepal of sterile flower (RHS)

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Hydrangea: 'SMHMES14' (left) with reference varieties 'Nikko Blue' (centre) and 'Robert' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMHMES14' (left) with reference varieties 'Nikko Blue' (centre) and 'Robert' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMHMES14' (left) with reference varieties 'Nikko Blue' (centre) and 'Robert' (right)