Patent Publication Number: US-PP25366-P2

Title: Hydrangea plant named ‘H211902’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Hydrangea macrophylla.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘H211902’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant, botanically known as  Hydrangea macrophylla , commercially referred to as a lacecap-type  Hydrangea  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘H211902’. 
     The new  Hydrangea  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely-branching  Hydrangea  plants with strong and sturdy stems, large inflorescences, attractive flower color and good postproduction longevity. 
     The new  Hydrangea  plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2007 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of  Hydrangea macrophylla  identified as code number 204164-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of  Hydrangea macrophylla  identified as code number 204139-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Hydrangea  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in March, 2009. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Hydrangea  plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since June, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new  Hydrangea  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Hydrangea  have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘H211902’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘H211902’ as a new and distinct  Hydrangea  plant:
         1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.   2. Vigorous growth habit.   3. Strong and sturdy stems.   4. Freely flowering habit.   5. Large lacecap inflorescences with numerous red purple-colored sterile and light red purple-colored fertile flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Hydrangea  can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  differ primarily from plants of female parent selection in sterile flower color as plants of the new  Hydrangea  have darker-colored sterile flowers than plants of the female parent selection. 
     Plants of the new  Hydrangea  can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  differ primarily from plants of male parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  are more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  have larger inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.       

     Plants of the new  Hydrangea  can be compared to plants of the  Hydrangea hybrida ‘ 1301’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,264. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Glandorf, Germany, plants of the new  Hydrangea  differed from plants of ‘1301’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  were larger than plants of ‘1301’.   2. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  had stronger lateral branches than plants of ‘1301’.   3. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  had larger sterile flowers than plants of ‘1301’.   4. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  and ‘1301’ differed in sterile flower color as plants of ‘1301’ had light pink-colored sterile flowers.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
       The accompanying colored photograph illustrates 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 photograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new  Hydrangea  plant. 
       The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘H211902’ grown in a container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and in the following description were grown during the winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial  Hydrangea  production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 17° C. Plants of the new  Hydrangea  were one year old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical description:  Hydrangea macrophylla  ‘H211902’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary selection of  Hydrangea macrophylla  identified as code number 204164-001, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent .—Proprietary selection of  Hydrangea macrophylla  identified as code number 204139-002, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting .—By vegetative cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer .—About two weeks at temperatures about 23° C.     Time to initiate roots, winter .—About 18 days at temperatures about 18° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer .—About four weeks at temperatures about 23° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter .—About five weeks at temperatures about 18° C.     Root description .—Thick; whitish brown in color.     Rooting habit .—Freely branching; dense.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit .—Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; rounded in shape; strong and sturdy stems; rapid growth rate and vigorous growth habit.     Plant height .—About 25 cm to 30 cm.     Plant diameter or area of spread .—About 35 cm.       
       Lateral branch description:
             Branching habit .—Freely branching habit with about six to eight lateral branches per plant.     Length .—About 18 cm to 23 cm.     Diameter .—About 5 mm.     Internode length .—About 3 cm to 3.5 cm.     Stem texture .—Smooth, glabrous.     Strength .—Strong, sturdy.     Color .—Close to 144B overlain with close to 187A; lenticels, close to 187A.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Opposite, simple.     Length .—About 12 cm to 14 cm.     Width .—About 8 cm to 9 cm.     Shape .—Ovate.     Apex .—Acute.     Base .—Obtuse.     Margin .—Dentate to serrate.     Texture, upper surface .—Smooth to rugose, glabrous.     Texture, lower surface .—Rugose, glabrous.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147C; venation, close to 146D.     Petiole .—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146D.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type and habit .—Single rounded sterile and small ovate-shaped fertile flowers arranged on flattened lacecap-type terminal panicles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.     Fragrance .—None detected.     Natural flowering season .—Short production time as a cooling treatment is not required for flower development; continuous flowering during the summer in Northern Europe.     Flower longevity .—Sterile and fertile flowers last about three months on the plant; sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers not persistent.     Quantity of flowers .—Freely flowering habit; about 14 to 18 sterile flowers per panicle and about 80 to 100 fertile flowers per panicle.     Panicle height .—About 7 cm to 9 cm.     Panicle diameter .—About 16 cm to 18 cm.     Sterile flower buds .—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 145C.     Fertile flower buds .—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Round. Color: Close to 145B.     Sterile flower diameter .—About 5 cm.     Sterile flower depth  ( height ).—About 6 mm.     Fertile flower diameter .—About 4 mm.     Fertile flower depth  ( height ).—About 5 mm.     Petals, fertile flowers only, sterile flowers without petals .—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 73B; color does not fade with development.     Sepals, sterile flowers .—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 157A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 66D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 66C; color does not fade with development.     Sepals, fertile flowers .—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 68C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 68D.     Pedicels, sterile flowers .—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 66C.     Pedicels, fertile flowers .—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 67C.     Reproductive organs, fertile flowers only; sterile flowers without reproductive organs .—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther shape: Conical. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 77D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 77D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 67C. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 67D. Ovary color: Close to 67D.     Seeds .—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.2 mm. Color: Close to 200C.       
       Disease &amp; pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions, plants of the new  Hydrangea  have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to  Hydrangea  plants.   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new  Hydrangea  have been shown to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 38° C.