SMNHMSIGMA

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Berner' (Let's Dance Big Easy)

Summary: The incisions of the margin of the sepals of the sterile flower are present on some sepals of 'SMNHMSIGMA' whereas the incisions of the margin of the sepals of the sterile flower are present on all sepals of 'Berner'. When newly open, the inner side of the sepal of the sterile flower of 'SMNHMSIGMA' is yellow green whereas the inner side of the sepal of the sterile flower of 'Berner' is lighter yellow green. When fully open, the inner side of the sepal of the sterile flower of 'SMNHMSIGMA' is purple red with white at the base whereas the inner side of the sepal of the sterile flower of 'Berner' is blue pink to light blue pink with white at the base. When aged, the inner side of the sepal of the sterile flower of 'SMNHMSIGMA' is purple red and may have a darker purple red tip whereas the inner side of the sepal of the sterile flower of 'Berner' is light blue pink.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, semi-upright growth habit
STEM: no fasciation, green, medium number of lenticels in autumn, colour of lenticels ranges from red to black

LEAF BLADE: no lobing, elliptic shape, long tip, obtuse base, medium depth of incisions of margin, no variegation, medium to dark green upper side, medium degree of glossiness of upper side, medium degree of blistering

FLOWERING: begins early
INFLORESCENCE: globular shape, inconspicuous or slightly conspicuous fertile flowers
STERILE FLOWER: single type, strong degree of overlapping of sepals, incisions of margin present on some sepals
SEPAL OF STERILE FLOWER (INNER SIDE): yellow green (RHS 154C-D) when newly open, purple red (RHS N57C-D) with white (RHS NN155A) at base when fully open, purple red (RHS N57C-D) and may have darker purple red (RHS 57B) tips when aged
PETAL OF FERTILE FLOWER: inner side is pink

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNHMSIGMA' was bred and developed by the breeder, Timothy D. Wood, an employee of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc., in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. It originated from a cross conducted in July 2008 between the Hydrangea macrophylla variety 'Robert', as the female parent, and an unknown male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'SMNHMSIGMA' was selected in June 2011 for its compact plant growth habit, reblooming ability, and inflorescence colour. 'SMNHMSIGMA' was first propagated asexually by soft wood cuttings in June 2011, in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNHMSIGMA' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2016, at BioFlora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings that were transplanted into 14 litre containers on July 13, 2015. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on June 6, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison table for 'SMNHMSIGMA' with reference variety 'Berner'

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

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHMSIGMA" (left) with reference variety 'Berner' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHMSIGMA" (left) with reference variety 'Berner' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHMSIGMA" (left) with reference variety 'Berner' (right)