Plants – Shrub or vine – Hydrangea
Plant Patent
2003-02-03
2004-10-19
Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1661)
Plants
Shrub or vine
Hydrangea
Plant Patent
active
PP015239
ABSTRACT:
Classification:
Hydrangea serrata×macrophylla
‘Lanarth White’×
Hydrangea serrata
‘Blue Billow’.
Varietal denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘Sweet Carol’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of
Hydrangea
hybrid, which was developed in a controlled breeding program in Silver Spring, Md., United States, by Mr. Joseph Gray.
The genus
Hydrangea
is included in the family
Saxifragaceae
which comprises about 80 genera and 1,200 species of herbs, shrubs, small trees and woody climbers mostly temperate in origin.
Hydrangea
comprises approximately 23 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and vines originating in North America, South America and East Asia, many of which possess desirable ornamental characteristics. Recent taxonomical treatments sometimes isolate
Hydrangea
in a new family,
Hydrangeaaceae.
Hydrangea macrophylla
is widespread and common throughout much of Japan. It generally has opposite, simple leaves, obovate to elliptic in shape, 10 to 20 cm long and 5 to 15 cm wide. Leaf color ranges from light to dark green, depending on light intensity and cultural conditions. Leaves are generally softly pubescent. Flower color is dependent upon the pH level of the soil and the amount of available aluminum in the soil media. Flowers of
Hydrangea macrophylla
are borne in mostly sterile florets, formed in what is often called a “hortensia” flower.
Hydrangea serrata
is widespread and common throughout much of Japan, Korea and China. It generally has opposite, simple leaves, lanceolate in shape with acuminate apices, 5 to 15 cm long and 5 to 10 cm wide. Leaf color ranges from light to dark green, depending on light intensity and cultural conditions. Leaves are generally softly pubescent. The plant is deciduous. Flower color is dependent upon the pH level of the soil and the amount of available aluminum in the soil media. Flowers of
Hydrangea serrata
are borne in mostly flattened corymbs, 1 to 5 cm wide, with up to 12 sterile florets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The new variety was discovered in a controlled breeding program of
Hydrangea serrata
and
H. serrata×macrophylla,
and differs from its parents in its large lacecap inflorescence, which is reminiscent of its macrophylla lineage, while being substantially hardier than macrophylla cultivars; the white-eye zone on sterile inflorescences when young; deeply serrated leaves; and merlot colored fall foliage. Asexual reproduction of the new variety by stem cuttings, performed in Silver Springs, Md. and Vacaville, Calif., have confirmed that the distinctive characteristics of the new variety are stable and transmitted to succeeding generations, and the new variety reproduces true to type.
COMPARISON WITH PARENTS
‘Sweet Carol’ is distinguished from its parents and all other varieties of
Hydrangea
of which I am aware in its large lacecap inflorescence, which is reminiscent of its macrophylla lineage, while being substantially hardier than macrophylla cultivars; the white-eye zone on sterile inflorescences when young; deeply serrated leaves, and merlot colored fall foliage.
COMPARISON WITH CLOSEST KNOWN CULTIVAR
The closest known cultivar to ‘Sweet Carol’ is
Hydrangea
בSweet Chris’ (U.S. Patent Pending; Ser. No. 10/357,938). ‘Sweet Carol’ exhibits larger flower panicles and larger and more recurved outer florets than ‘Sweet Chris’. Additionally, ‘Sweet Carol’ and ‘Sweet Chris’ differ in flower color, and the stems of ‘Sweet Carol’ are green as compared to the reddish colored stems of ‘Sweet Chris’.
Campell Bruce R.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Hines Nurseries Inc.
Krawczewicz Myers Louanne
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