HYDRANGEA PLANT NAMED 'HISUN'

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘HISUN’, characterized by its upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely flowering habit; large and dense inflorescences with white-colored sterile flowers; and good post-production longevity.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HISUN’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0031] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

[0032] The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HISUN’ grown in a container.

[0033] The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘HISUN’.

[0034] The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘HISUN’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0035] Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the summer in 14-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20 ° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 22° C. and lightly levels averaged 4,000 lux. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants are not typically “blued” (treated with aluminum sulfate). [0036] Botanical description: [0037] Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HISUN’. [0038] Parentage: [0039] Female, or seed, patent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 1676, not patented. [0040] Male, or pollen, patent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 1695, not patented. [0041] Propagation: [0042] Type cutting.—By vegetative terminal cuttings. [0043] Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at temperatures about 22° C. [0044] Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at temperatures about 20° C. [0045] Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four weeks at temperatures about 22° C. [0046] Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one month at temperatures about 19° C. [0047] Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. [0048] Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. [0049] Plant description: [0050] Plant and growth habit.—Upright, broadly outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; flattened globular in overall shape; strong and sturdy stems; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; about six months from propagation are required to produce a small finished flowering plant. [0051] Plant height.—About 30.3 cm. [0052] Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 46.2 cm. [0053] Lateral branch description: [0054] Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about eleven lateral branches per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development. [0055] Length.—About 13.6 cm. [0056] Diameter.—About 5 mm. [0057] Internode length.—About 4.9 cm. [0058] Strength.—Strong, sturdy. [0059] Aspect.—About 55° from vertical. [0060] Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody. [0061] Luster.—Moderately glossy. [0062] Color, developing.—Close to 144A. [0063] Color, fully developed.—Close to 144A; at the nodes, slightly tinged with close to 183D; when woody, close to 199A, N199C and N199D. [0064] Lenticels.—Density: Medium. Length: About 1.25 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm. Color: Close to N186C. [0065] Leaf description: [0066] Arrangement.—Opposite, simple. [0067] Length.—About 10.9 cm. [0068] Width.—About 8 cm. [0069] Shape.—Broadly ovate to broadly obovate. [0070] Apex.—Apiculate. [0071] Base.—Acute to truncate. [0072] Margin.—Coarsely dentate to serrate. [0073] Texture and luster, upper surface.—Slightly rugose, glabrous; semi-glossy. [0074] Texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately rugose, glabrous; slightly glossy. [0075] Venation pattern.—Pinnate. [0076] Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to between 147A and N189A; venation, close to 144A. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C to 146D. [0077] Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C to 146D. [0078] Flower description: [0079] Flower type and habit.—Showy rotate sterile flowers and small, inconspicuous rotate fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type terminal panicles; panicles flattened globular in shape; sterile flowers face upright to outwardly and fertile flowers mostly upright. [0080] Fragrance.—None detected. [0081] Natural flowering season.—In the garden, plants flower continuously from the late spring to late summer in The Netherlands; flower dormancy can be broken by giving a two-month cold treatment. [0082] Flower longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; sterile flowers maintain good substance for about six weeks on the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last for a few days on the plant, fertile flowers not persistent. [0083] Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 140 sterile flowers per panicle and about 30 fertile flowers per panicle. [0084] Panicle height.—About 7.7 cm. [0085] Panicle diameter.—About 14.3 cm. [0086] Panicle peduncles.—Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary peduncles, mostly erect; lateral peduncles, about 40° from primary peduncle axis. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Close to 145A; distally, close to 157C; at the nodes, tinged with close to 183D. Lenticels: Density: Medium. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm. Color: Close to 178A to 178B. [0087] Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 145D; distally, with close to 155C. Fertile flower buds: Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to 145A to 145B. [0088] Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm. [0089] Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.3 cm. [0090] Fertile flower diameter.—About 8 mm. [0091] Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm. [0092] Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four, or occasionally three, in a single whorl. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 1.8 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate, concave. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development. [0093] Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, or occasionally six, in a single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development. [0094] Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically four, or occasionally five, in a single whorl. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Reniform. Apex: Obtuse to retuse. Base: Broadly attenuate. Margin: Entire; coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155C; towards the base, close to 155A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development. [0095] Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D; towards the apex, close to 155C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; towards the apex, tinged with close to 145D; color does not change with subsequent development. [0096] Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to NN155D. [0097] Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° from peduncle. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 155C. [0098] Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 145B to 145C. Pollen amount: None detected. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Two. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to NN155A. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 145B. [0099] Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Ten. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther length: About 0.75 mm. Anther color: Close to 157D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to NN155D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 157D. [0100] Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on plants of the new Hydrangea. [0101] Pathogen & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed to tolerate Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe friesii var. friesii) and Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea). Plants of the new Hydrangea not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Hydrangea plants. [0102] Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.