SMNHSME

Hydrangea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'SMNHSC' (Let's Dance Arriba!)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'SMNHSME' is shorter than that of ‘SMNHSC'. The leaf blade tip of 'SMNHSME' is short while that of ‘SMNHSC' is medium to long. The inflorescence of 'SMNHSME' is smaller in diameter than that of ‘SMNHSC'. The sepal of the calyx of the sterile flower of 'SMNHSME' is smaller than that of ‘SMNHSC'. The sepal of the sterile flower of 'SMNHSME' is medium to light blue pink while that of ‘SMNHSC' is medium blue pink.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, upright growth habit, broader than tall

STEM: no fasciation, green, absent or few small reddish lenticels

PETIOLE: green
LEAF BLADE: no lobing, ovate to elliptic shape, short tip, obtuse to rounded base, shallow margin incisions, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, no variegation, medium green, no secondary colour, absent or weak glossiness of upper side, weak rugosity, flat in cross-section

INFLORESCENCE: globular shape, inconspicuous or slightly conspicuous fertile flowers, dense sterile flowers
STERILE FLOWER: three and four sepals
SEPALS OF STERILE FLOWER: semi-erect attitude, pointed apex, absent or weak rugosity, flat in cross-section, medium degree of overlapping, absent or weak undulation, shallow margin incisions present on all sepals, medium to light blue pink (closest to RHS 62B-C), white (RHS NN155D) secondary colour distributed at center of the flower

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNHSME' originated from a controlled cross that occurred between the female parent variety Hydrangea serrata ‘MAK20' and the male parent variety Hydrangea macrophylla ‘SMNHMSIGMA' in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA in the summer of 2016. In 2017, a single unique plant was selected from the resulting progeny in Grand Haven, Michigan based on its compact growth habit, branching habit, inflorescence type and size and flower colour. Asexual reproduction of 'SMNHSME' was first conducted by softwood cuttings in the summer of 2017 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNHSME' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2024 at BioFlora, Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 13.6 litre containers in the summer of 2023. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety on July 25, 2024. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNHSME' with reference variety 'SMNHSC'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Length of sepal of calyx of sterile flower (mm)

Width of sepal of calyx of sterile flower (mm)

Colour of sepal of sterile flower (RHS)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHSME' (left) with reference variety 'SMNHSC' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHSME' (left) with reference variety 'SMNHSC' (right)

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Hydrangea: 'SMNHSME' (left) with reference variety 'SMNHSC' (right)