Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser.
‘Bountiful Bouquets’
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla, a member of the Hydrangeaceae family, hereinafter referred to by its cultivar name ‘Bountiful Bouquets’. This cultivar is grown primarily as an ornamental for landscape use and for use as a potted plant.
The cultivar originated from a controlled cross-pollination of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Mathilda Gutges’ (unpatented) crossed with Hydrangea macrophylla ‘David Ramsey’ (unpatented) in Athens, Ga. in 2005, and was selected from the progeny of this cross by continued evaluation for growth habit, improved leaf and flower characteristics, and increased resistance to powdery mildew. The cultivar ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ originated and was discovered in a cultivated environment in Athens, Ga.
‘Bountiful Bouquets’ has been asexually reproduced by softwood cuttings since 2006 in Athens, Ga. and in Watkinsville, Ga. The characteristics of the cultivar have been stable and reproduced true to type in successive vegetative generations.
‘Bountiful Bouquets’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with changes in light, temperature, soil and rainfall without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. In combination these characteristics distinguish ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ from all other varieties in commerce known to the inventor. 1) Remontant (reblooming) trait, flowering on old wood and new growth of the season. 2) Medium pink mophead inflorescences or medium blue inflorescences in non-aluminum or aluminum based media, respectively. 3) Compact, rounded growth habit. 4) Strong stems that hold the inflorescences upright. 5) Matte, dark green foliage. 6) Moderate resistance to powdery mildew.
‘Bountiful Bouquets’ is distinguished from its female parent ‘Mathilda Gutges’ by its growth habit, and flower and foliage color, and by its reblooming trait. ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ has a larger, compact, rounded growth habit, medium pink or medium blue inflorescences, matte, dark green foliage, and is a rebloomer, whereas ‘Mathilda Gutges’ has an overall smaller, compact, rounded growth habit, rich pink or violet-blue inflorescences, lustrous, dark green foliage, and is not a rebloomer. ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ is distinguished from its male parent ‘David Ramsey’ by its flower and foliage color. ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ has medium pink or medium blue inflorescences and matte, dark green foliage, whereas ‘David Ramsey’ has lighter pink or lighter blue inflorescences and matte, medium green foliage. There are no other cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla with this combination of traits known to the inventor.
‘Bountiful Bouquets’ can be compared to the cultivar ‘Show Stopper’ (Plant Patent Applied For) but differs in the following characteristics. ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ has a larger, compact, rounded growth habit, whereas ‘Show Stopper’ has a smaller, compact, mounded growth habit. ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ has medium pink or medium blue inflorescences, whereas ‘Show Stopper’ has dark pink or dark blue inflorescences. ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ has matte, dark green foliage, whereas ‘Show Stopper’ has lustrous, dark green foliage.
The accompanying illustrations show characteristics of the new cultivar in photographs as true to color as is reasonably possible to make in illustrations of this nature. 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.
In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the description were grown in 11.8 L containers in a medium consisting of composted pine bark that was amended with 45 grams of aluminum sulphate and a pH of 5.7. Plants were grown under 50% shade under outdoor conditions in a nursery in Watkinsville, Ga. Plants were about 2 years old when the description was recorded.
Sterile florets are about 3.7 cm in diameter. Each floret contains 4 sepals about 1.8 cm in length and about 1.8 cm in width. Sterile floret shape: ovoid with obtuse apex, acute base, and entire margin; Texture: smooth with no pubescence; Color at maturity: the upper surface is 94D and the lower surface is 92C.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/784,698 filed Mar. 14, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61784698 | Mar 2013 | US |