<i>Hydrangea </i>plant named ‘SMNHSME’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHSME’ is disclosed, characterized by large, mophead inflorescences, colored pastel pink to blue based on soil pH. Plants are very floriferous, have rounded dwarf habits and are densely branched. The new variety is a Hydrangea, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHSME’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) ‘SMNHSME’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form, foliage, and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new hybrid Hydrangea. Age of the plants photographed is between 2 to 3 years.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a container grown plant of ‘SMNHSME’ grown in a greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. in 2020 at about 1.5 years of age. Plants have been treated with a typical acidic “bluing”(aluminum sulfate) treatment. Inflorescences shown are in a variety of stages of maturity.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a field grown plant of ‘SMNHSME’ with mature and immature inflorescences. No “bluing” treatment was given.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the mature inflorescence of a container-grown plant of ‘SMNHSME’, treated without “bluing” treatment, grown in a greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. in 2019.

(5) FIG. 4 shows the mature inflorescence of a container-grown plant, treated with a typical acidic “bluing”(aluminum sulfate) treatment, grown in a greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. in 2019.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SMNHSME’ plants grown outdoors in Grand Haven, Mich. The plants were about 2 to 3 years old. Temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. at night to 18° C. to 27° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Hydrangea sp. ‘SMNHSME’.

PROPAGATION

(7) Typical method: Softwood cuttings. Root initiation: 10 days. Time to produce rooted cutting: 30 days during the Summer. Roots: Medium to thick, moderately free branching, fibrous and fleshy, moderately dense. White in color, not accurately measured with RHS chart.

PLANT

(8) Growth habit: Upwards and outwards. Shape: Rounded. Height: 50 cm. Plant spread: 70 cm. Pot size of plant described: 3 gallon container. Age of plant described: Approximately 2 to 3 years. Growth rate: Good. Plant vigor: Moderate. Stem: Branching.—Basal. Number of lateral branches.—About 25. Shape.—Round with lenticels. Color.—Immature: RHS Yellow-Green 144A to Green 143C. Mature: RHS Yellow-Green 144A to Green 143C, with Greyed-Orange 166A lenticels. Length.—40 cm. Width.—5 mm. Aspect.—60 to 80°. Strength.—Strong. Pubescence.—Slightly velvety, near inflorescence. Internode length.—6 to 8 cm.

FOLIAGE

(9) Leaf: Arrangement.—Opposite. Shape.—Ovate to orbicular. Length.—9 to 12 cm. Width.—6.5 to 9.5 cm. Apex.—Acuminate. Base.—Obtuse. Margin.—Serrulate. Texture of top surface.—Smooth, coriaceous. Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, coriaceous, with ribbing from veins. Pubescence.—None. Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage, under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Venation: Type.—Pinnate. Color.—Upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B, with tints of Greyed-Orange 166A. Under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Petiole: Length.—2 cm. Width.—2.5 mm. Color.—Upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B, with tints of Greyed-Orange 166A. Under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Texture.—Upper side: Glabrous. Under side: Glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE

(10) Natural flowering season: Early to late Summer. Inflorescence type: Mophead. Panicle: Shape.—Round, orbital. Height.—11 cm. Diameter.—17 cm. Fragrance: None. Sterile flowers: Flowers per inflorescence.—200 to 300+. Aspect.—Upright and outward. Shape.—Whorl. Length.—3.5 cm. Diameter.—3.5 cm. Depth.—2 mm. Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent. Bud: Length.—2 mm. Bud diameter.—2 mm. Bud shape.—Obovate. Bud color.—RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Petals: Number per Flower.—5. Arrangement.—Whorl. Shape.—Ovate. Tip.—Acute. Base.—Obtuse. Margin.—Entire. Length.—3 mm. Width.—2 mm. Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Under side: Smooth. Color.—When Opening, Upper side: Acidic: RHS Blue 100C. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D. When Opening, Under side: Acidic: RHS Blue 100D. Basic: RHS Purple 75D. Fully Opened, Upper side: Acidic: RHS Blue 100C. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D. Fully Opened, Under side: Acidic: RHS Blue 100D. Basic: RHS Purple 75D. Sepal: Number.—3 to 5. Arrangement.—Whorl. Shape.—Ovate. Tip.—Acute. Base.—Obtuse. Margin.—Irregular-subentire to sinuate, dentate. Length.—2 to 2.5 cm. Width.—2.5 to 3 mm. Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Under side: Smooth. Color.—When Opening, Upper side: Acidic: RHS Violet-Blue 91C, with Yellow-Green 150C near center. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D, with Yellow-Green 150C near center. When Opening, Under side: Acidic: RHS Violet-Blue 91C, with Yellow-Green 150C near center. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D, with Yellow-Green 150C near center. Fully Opened, Upper side: Acidic: RHS Violet-Blue 97A. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70. Fully Opened, Under side: Acidic: RHS Violet-Blue 95D. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D. Fading, Upper side: Acidic: RHS Violet-Blue 97A. Basic: RHS Purple 75B. Fading, Under side: Acidic: RHS Violet-Blue 95D. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D. Pedicel: Length.—2 cm. Diameter.—2 mm. Angle.—15-45°. Strength.—Moderately strong. Texture.—Some pubescence (slight and velvety). Color.—Acidic: RHS Violet-Blue 94C-D. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D. Fertile flowers: Flowers per inflorescence.—About 150. Aspect.—Upright. Shape.—Rotate. Length.—7 mm. Diameter.—7 mm. Depth.—5 mm. Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning. Bud: Length.—2 mm. Bud diameter.—2 mm. Bud shape.—Obovate. Bud color.—RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Petals: Number per flower.—5. Arrangement.—Whorl. Shape.—Ovate. Tip.—Acute. Base.—Obtuse. Margin.—Entire. Length.—3 mm. Width.—2 mm. Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Under side: Smooth. Color.—When Opening, Upper side: Acidic: RHS Blue 100C. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D. When Opening, Under side: Acidic: RHS Blue 100D. Basic: RHS Purple 75D. Fully Opened, Upper side: Acidic: RHS Blue 100C. Basic: RHS Greyed-Purple 186D. Fully Opened, Under side: Acidic: RHS Blue 100D. Basic: RHS Purple 75D. Sepal: None. Pedicel: Length.—3 to 4 mm. Diameter.—1 mm. Angle.—45°. Strength.—Good. Texture.—Glabrous. Color.—Acidic: RHS Greyed-Purple N187B-C. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(11) Sterile flower: Stamens: Number.—About 10. Filament color.—Acidic: RHS Blue 101A. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70B. Filament length.—4 mm. Anthers: Length.—1 mm. Shape.—Round, bi-lobed, basifixed. Color.—Acidic: RHS Blue 100B. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70B. Pollen.—Moderate. Pollen color.—RHS Yellow-White 158C. Pistil: Number.—1. Length.—2 mm. Stigma: Shape.—Lobed (3 to 4). Color.—Acidic: RHS Blue 101B. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70C. Style length.—1 mm. Style color.—Acidic: RHS Blue 101B. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70C. Fertile flower: Stamen: Number.—About 10. Filament length.—4 mm. Filament color.—Acidic: RHS Blue 101A. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70B. Anther: Shape.—Round, bi-lobed, basifixed. Length.—1 mm. Color.—Acidic: RHS Blue 100B. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70B. Pollen amount.—Moderate. Pollen color.—RHS Yellow-White 158C. Pistil: Number.—1. Length.—2 mm. Stigma: Shape.—Lobed (3 to 4). Color.—Acidic: RHS Blue 101B. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70C. Style length.—1 mm. Style color.—Acidic: RHS Blue 101B. Basic: RHS Red-Purple 70C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(12) Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Hydrangea has been observed. Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar can tolerate cold temperatures to approximately −32° C. and tolerates an upper temperature range to at least 36° C. Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date.