Brenhill

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Snow Queen'

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the upper side of the petiole is absent to weak for 'Brenhill' whereas the intensity is medium to strong for 'Snow Queen'. The calyx of the sterile flower of 'Brenhill' is smaller in diameter than the calyx of 'Snow Queen'. The sepal of the sterile flower of 'Brenhill' is narrower than the sepal of 'Snow Queen'. When newly open, the inner side of the sepal of the sterile flower is yellow green for 'Brenhill' whereas the sepal is lighter yellow green for 'Snow Queen'. When aged, the inner side of the sepal of the sterile flower is light green with yellow green along the margin for 'Brenhill' whereas the sepal is yellow green with brown green primary veins for 'Snow Queen'.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, upright to spreading growth habit, begins flowering early
STEM: no fasciation, brownish, many lenticels, light brown lenticels

LEAF BLADE: lobing present, sinus between lobes is medium to deep, long tip, shallow to medium depth of incisions of margin, no variegation, medium green upper side, medium degree of glossiness, strong blistering between veins
PETIOLE: absent to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of upper side

INFLORESCENCE: conical shape, moderately conspicuous fertile flowers
STERILE FLOWER: single type, medium to strong degree of overlapping of sepals, incisions of margin are absent on all sepals
SEPAL OF STERILE FLOWER (INNER SIDE): yellow green (RHS 1C) when newly open, yellow green (whiter than RHS 1D) with brown green (RHS 147C) primary veins when fully open, light green (more yellow than RHS 145B) with yellow green (RHS 150D, but as dark as RHS 145A) along margin when aged, no secondary colour on inner side
FERTILE FLOWER: white petal

Origin & Breeding History: 'Brenhill' was discovered and developed by the breeders, Doug Hill and Brenda Hill, in Cleveland, Alabama, USA. It originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred in 1992 between the Hydrangea quercifolia variety 'Snow Queen', as the female parent, and an unknown male parent. 'Brenhill' was selected in 1998 for its large flowers, early flowering time, and robust plant growth. Asexual reproduction of 'Brenhill' by softwood cuttings was first conducted in July 2000 in Cleveland, Alabama, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Brenhill' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2015 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 10 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 13.2 litre containers on June 19, 2013. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on June 4, 2015. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Brenhill' with reference variety 'Snow Queen'

Diameter of calyx of sterile flower (cm)

Width of sepal of sterile flower (cm)

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

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Hydrangea: 'Brenhill' (left) with reference variety 'Snow Queen' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'Brenhill' (left) with reference variety 'Snow Queen' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'Brenhill' (left) with reference variety 'Snow Queen' (right)