QUFU

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Hokomathyst' (Everlasting Amethyst)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'QUFU' is narrower than the leaf blade of 'Hokomathyst'. The inflorescence of 'QUFU' is shorter than the inflorescence of 'Hokomathyst'. The calyx of the sterile flower of 'QUFU' is larger in diameter than the calyx of 'Hokomathyst'. On the sterile flower, margin incisions are present on some sepals of 'QUFU' whereas margin incisions are present on all sepals of 'Hokomathyst'. The secondary colour on the inner side of the sepal from a sterile flower is pink for 'QUFU' whereas it is lighter pink for 'Hokomathyst'.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, upright to semi-upright growth habit
STEM: no fasciation, green, medium number of lenticels, red lenticels

LEAF BLADE: no lobing, short to medium length tip, rounded base, shallow incisions of margin, no variegation, medium green on upper side, medium glossiness of upper side, medium degree of blistering

FLOWERING: begins early
INFLORESCENCE: globular shape (mop head type), inconspicuous or slightly conspicuous fertile flowers
STERILE FLOWER: single type, strong degree of overlapping of sepals, incisions of margin present on some sepals
STERILE FLOWER SEPAL: when calyx is newly open inner side of sepal is brown green (RHS 137B) with dark green (RHS 144A) margins, when calyx is fully open (before petals of sterile flower open) inner side is light to dark green (RHS 144A-B) with brown green (RHS 137B) spots and purple red (RHS 61C) and blue pink (RHS 63B) secondary colours along margin, when calyx is fully open (after petals of sterile flower open) inner side is light green (RHS 144B) with brown green (RHS 137C) spots and purple red (RHS N57C-D) secondary colour at base and along margin, when calyx is aged inner side is light green (RHS 144B) with light blue pink (RHS 56C-D) secondary colour at base and along margin, secondary colour may be distributed throughout entire sepal during any developmental stage
FERTILE FLOWER: inner side of petal is yellow green

Origin & Breeding History: 'QUFU' was bred and developed by the breeder, Cornelis Pieter Eveleens, in Boskoop, Netherlands. It originated from a controlled cross conducted on May 13, 2008, in Boskoop, between a proprietary seedling designated as 'Kroe-1', as the female parent, and a proprietary seedling designated as 'GS-1', as the male parent. 'QUFU' was selected in July 2010 for its inflorescence shape, sturdy flower of good quality, flower colour and colour persistence.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'QUFU' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2015 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. It included a total of 10 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings that were each transplanted into an 8.8 litre container. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 shrubs, or parts of shrubs, of the candidate and reference variety on June 11, 2015, with the exception of the observations on the mature flower which were made on July 10, 2015. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'QUFU' with reference variety 'Hokomathyst'

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Diameter of calyx of sterile flower (cm)

Secondary colour of inner side of sepal of sterile flower (RHS)

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Hydrangea: 'QUFU' (left) with reference variety 'Hokomathyst' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'QUFU' (left) with reference variety 'Hokomathyst' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'QUFU' (left) with reference variety 'Hokomathyst' (right)