<i>Hydrangea </i>plant named ‘NCHP1’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata plant named ‘NCHP1’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact, rounded habit with thick stems. Extremely abundant, white sterile flowers in large, broadly pyramidal panicles that open white and fade to green. The new variety is a Hydrangea, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘NCHP1’ as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) This new Hydrangea 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 Hydrangea.

(2) FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing the compact habit of a field-grown plant in summer of 2021, in Mills River, N.C. The plant is approximately 2 years old.

(3) FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing the dense inflorescences with numerous sterile florets of ‘NCHP1’ in summer of 2021, in Mills River, N.C. Plants are container grown and approximately 1.5 years old.

(4) FIG. 3 is a color photograph of the broad panicles of the inflorescences and the clean foliage of ‘NCHP1’ in summer of 2021, in Mills River, N.C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct panicle Hydrangea cultivar known by the denomination ‘NCHP1’. The detailed description was taken on a five-year-old field-grown plant in Mills River, N.C. in 2021. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), London, Sixth Edition). Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. Classification: Botanical name.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘NCHP1’. Common name.—Panicle Hydrangea. Plant description: Growth habit.—Rounded, upright. Height.—90 to 150 cm. Width.—90 to 150 cm. Stems, shoots, branches, trunk: Shoots (current year's growth).—Shape: Rounded. Shoot length: Avg. 9.8 cm (Range 6 to 16 cm). Shoot diameter: Avg. 0.25 cm (0.2 to 0.4 cm). Color: Light Yellow Green (RHS 138D). Texture: Pubescent. Shoots (prior year's growth).—Shape: Rounded. Stem length: Avg. 20.7 (8 to 35 cm). Stem diameter: Avg. 0.4 cm (0.3 to 0.5 cm). Color: Greyish Brown (RHS 166A). Texture: Pubescent. Branches (woody branches 2-4 years old).—Shape: Rounded. Branch length: Avg. 29.4 cm (14 to 40 cm). Branch diameter: Avg. 1.6 cm (0.6 to 2.8 cm). Color: Light Olive Grey (RHS 197A). Texture: Glabrous, with vertical fissures. Internode length.—Avg. 7.8 cm (4.5 to 11 cm). Leaves: Type.—Simple. Persistence.—Deciduous. Arrangement.—Opposite, sometimes in whorls of 3. Shape.—Ovate. Venation.—Pinnate. Vein color, upper and lower: Light Yellow Green (RHS 138D). Length of lamina.—Avg. 8.0 cm (5.5 to 10.5 cm). Width.—Avg. 4.4 cm (3.1 to 6.5 cm). Color, both emerging and mature.—Upper: Moderate Olive Green (RHS 137B). Lower: Moderate Yellow Green (RHS 147C). Texture.—Upper: Glabrous. Lower: Sparsely pubescent. Apex.—Acuminate. Base.—Acute. Margins.—Serrate. Leaf attachment.—Petiolate. Petiole.—Length: Avg. 1.4 cm (0.9 to 2 cm). Diameter: Avg 0.15 (0.1 to 0.2 cm). Color: Light Yellow Green (RHS 138D). Texture: Pubescent. Inflorescence: Description.—Flowers arranged in terminal, broadly pyramidal panicles, composed of fertile and sterile flowers. Flowering season.—July to October in Mills River, N.C. Number of inflorescences per plant.—More than 300. Number of flowers per inflorescence.—More than 600. Fragrance.—Light, sweet fragrance. Inflorescence.—Height: Avg. 13.7 cm (12.0 to 16.5 cm), terminal of the panicle extends an additional 3.0 to 4.0 cm above the panicle as inflorescence ages. Diameter at the widest point of inflorescence: Avg. 17.4 cm (15.0 to 20.5 cm). Flower bud, fertile and sterile flowers.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 0.3 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: Greenish White (RHS 155C). Texture: Glabrous. Flower.—Fertile flower diameter: About 0.8 cm. Fertile flower height: About 0.6 cm. Sterile flower diameter: Avg. 3.0 cm (2.3 to 3.4 cm). Sterile flower height: About 0.7 cm. Petals, fertile flowers.—Arrangement: Whorled. Number of petals per fertile flower: 5. Shape: Ovate-lanceolate. Length: About 0.3 cm. Width: About 0.15 cm. Color: Greenish White (RHS 157D). Texture: Glabrous. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Sepal, fertile flowers.—Number: 5. Arrangement: Whorled. Shape: Ovate. Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Width: About 0.1 cm. Color: Greenish White (RHS 157D). Texture: Glabrous. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Sepal, sterile flowers.—Number: 4-5. Arrangement: Whorled. Shape: Elliptical. Length: Avg. 1.3 cm (0.9 to 1.6 cm). Width: Avg. 0.8 cm (0.7 to 1.0 cm). Color: Greenish White (RHS 157D) fading to Light Yellow Green (RHS 145D). Texture: Glabrous. Apex: Rounded. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Peduncle.—Length: Avg. 7.5 cm (5 to 9 cm). Diameter: About 0.15 cm. Color: Greenish White (RHS 157D). Texture: Pubescent. Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 0.2 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color: Greenish White (RHS 157D). Texture: Pubescent. Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: Avg. 2.0 cm (1.4 to 2.3 cm). Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color: Greenish White (RHS 157D). Texture: Pubescent. Reproductive organs: Fertile flowers.—Gynoecium: Pistil number: 3 fused. Pistil length: Less than 0.1 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Greenish White (RHS 157D). Style length: Less than 0.1 cm. Style color: Greenish White (RHS 157D). Androecium: Stamen number: 9-10. Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther size: About 0.1 cm. Anther color: Greenish White (RHS 157D). Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Greenish White (RHS 157D).

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(6) Fruit and seed: None observed. Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or insect pests have been observed. Cold hardiness: At least USDA zone 6b; testing has not been completed in colder zones.