NCHA4

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'NCHA1' (Invincibelle Spirit)

Summary: The stem strength of 'NCHA4' is medium to strong whereas the stem strength of 'NCHA1' is weak. The leaf blade of 'NCHA4' is broader than the leaf blade of 'NCHA1'. The inflorescence of 'NCHA4' is taller and larger in diameter than the inflorescence of 'NCHA1'. The sepal of the sterile flower of 'NCHA4' is broader than the sepal of the sterile flower of 'NCHA1'. The apex of the sepal of the sterile flower is obtuse for 'NCHA4' whereas the apex of the sepal of the sterile flower of 'NCHA1' is acute.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, upright growth habit
STEM: no fasciation, orange-brown, moderate to strong strength

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

FLOWERING: begins mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: globular shape, inconspicuous or slightly conspicuous fertile flowers
STERILE FLOWER BUD: brown purple (RHS 183A)
STERILE FLOWER: single type, obtuse apex, absent to very weak degree of overlapping of sepals, incisions of margin absent on all sepals
SEPAL OF STERILE FLOWER (INNER SIDE): white (RHS 155A) with brown purple (RHS 184C-D) tones when newly open, white (RHS NN155B) with blue pink (RHS 63B) along veins and edge of margin when fully open, white (RHS NN155B) with blue pink (RHS 63C) over colour and light blue pink (RHS 62C) along margin when aged, no secondary colour
PETAL OF FERTILE FLOWER: inner side is white with pink tones

Origin & Breeding History: 'NCHA4' was bred and developed by the breeder, Thomas Green Ranney, an employee of North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. It originated from a controlled cross conducted in June 2010 at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, in Mills River, North Carolina, between the variety 'H2008-143-001', as the female parent, and the variety 'H2009-068-007', as the male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'NCHA4' was selected in the spring of 2011 for its compact plant growth habit, stiff branches, and inflorescence colour. 'NCHA4' was first propagated asexually by stem cuttings in June 2012 at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, in Mills River, North Carolina.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'NCHA4' was conducted in an outdoor container trial during the spring and summer of 2016, at BioFlora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 14 litre containers on July 15, 2015. The plants were overwintered in a cold double polyhouse without heat. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on June 21, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'NCHA4' with reference variety 'NCHA1'

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence height (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Width of sepal of sterile flower (cm)

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Hydrangea: 'NCHA4' (left) with reference variety 'NCHA1' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'NCHA4' (left) with reference variety 'NCHA1' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'NCHA4' (left) with reference variety 'NCHA1' (right)