Livin’ the Hy Life

Jennifer Zurko

Many of the indoor hydrangea varieties you see in the North American market start with the Hydrangea Breeders Association (HBA), based in the Netherlands. A lot of their plants are licensed by growers and breeders in the U.S. and Canada. Some of HBA’s favorites for North America are pictured here. 

Chris Kelleher from Aris Horticulture said Pink Sensation is their Number 1 variety.

“It has good breaking action, strong stems, large mophead flowers and uniform growth,” she said. “Petals have a unique quilted appearance.”

Early Blue is also one of their top sellers because of its early-mid response. According to Chris, it has an excellent cane count and easy-to-control habit, requiring less PGRs than Bela.

A New Line in NA

Earlier this year, Syngenta announced its new partnership with HI Breeding Company of the Netherlands to offer the HI Hydrangea Collection exclusively in North America. These florist Hydrangea macrophylla types were bred with growers in mind.

For example, strong stems means no need to put rings on them and the flowers hold on the plant much longer at retail. Six colors range from blue to white to pink to red, fading to nice antique shades, with Sugar staying pink no matter the soil pH. The HIs offer some reblooming, so they might work in the landscape once they’re done as a home beautifier. Offered as pre-finished plants from Syngenta through Creekside Greenhouses in Ontario, who’s also their trialing partner.

Mariska van der Zande of HBA said they’re excited about their new double-flowered indoor hydrangeas, available through Ball Ingenuity and grown at Aldershot Greenhouses in Ontario. This is the first line of florist-quality indoor double hydrangeas available in North America. They all have a compact growth habit with strong stems that branch easily. Aldershot sells them as dormant plants in either four canes for 4-in. pots or six canes for 6-in. pots. Specifically programmed to finish in the containers they come in and with no supports necessary, it saves on labor. Forcing period is 11 weeks.

Jip Blue & Jip Pink
Flower type: Mophead
Growth: Compact to medium habit
Forcing period: 10 weeks

Pink Sensation
Flower type: Mophead with many medium-sized flowers
Growth: Medium; also suitable for outdoors
Forcing period: 10 weeks

Caipirinha Green Stage & Caipirinha White Stage
Flower type: Mophead
Growth: Medium; also suitable for outdoors
Forcing period: 10 weeks

Hot Red
Flower type: Mophead
Growth: Compact; also suitable for mall containers
Forcing period: 10 weeks

NEW Speedy Red Improved
Flower type: Mophead
Growth: Compact; improved for smaller pot sizes
Forcing period: 9 weeks

Early Blue
Flower type: Mophead
Growth: Compact, medium; suited for small- and medium-sized pots
Forcing period: 10 weeks

Red Beauty
Flower type: Mophead with many medium-sized flowers
Growth: Medium; suitable for various pot sizes
Forcing period: 10 weeks

The new double hydrangeas are: Flame Blue, Pink Feather Blue, Pink Felina Blue, Pink Florentina Blue, PinkDouble Pink, Pink Purple. GT