Hydrangea SMNHSME Cultivar Breeding for Mophead Inflorescences

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for new, more floriferous Hydrangea varieties with improved colors and habits that can thrive under varying environmental conditions without genotype variance, while existing varieties may not consistently produce large mophead inflorescences, have adequate flower color variation, or exhibit desirable growth habits.

Innovation Solution

The cultivar 'SMNHSME' is developed through planned breeding, combining Hydrangea serrata 'MAK20' and Hydrangea macrophylla 'SMNHMSIGMA', resulting in large mophead inflorescences, remontant flowering, dwarf size, densely branching, and pastel pink and blue flower colors influenced by soil pH and aluminum presence, achieved through asexual reproduction by softwood cuttings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If existing Hydrangea varieties are used, then they may have some flower production, but they do not consistently produce large mophead inflorescences with adequate flower color variation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflower productionVSAvoidflower color variation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two different Hydrangea species (Hydrangea serrata and Hydrangea macrophylla) through controlled cross-breeding to create a hybrid cultivar that exhibits both large mophead inflorescences and pastel flower colors with environmental responsiveness, resolving the contradiction between consistent flower production and color variation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of moving object

If Hydrangea varieties are bred for larger inflorescences, then flower size increases, but plant size may become too large for desirable horticultural applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinflorescence sizeVSAvoidplant height

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hybrid cultivar exhibits localized gigantism where the inflorescences achieve large size (15-20 cm diameter) while the overall plant remains compact (30-60 cm height), creating a disproportionate relationship between flower size and plant size that satisfies both large flower and small plant requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If Hydrangea varieties are selected for vibrant flower colors, then color intensity increases, but the range of color variation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflower color intensityVSAvoidcolor range

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivar's flower color is dynamic rather than fixed, changing from pink to blue based on soil pH and aluminum availability, allowing the same plant to exhibit multiple colors throughout its life cycle or across different growing conditions, thus providing both intensity and variety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUSPP34327P2<i>Hydrangea </i>plant named ‘SMNHSME’

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 SPRING MEADOW NURSERY INC

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHSME’ is disclosed, characterized by large, mophead inflorescences, colored pastel pink to blue based on soil pH. Plants are very floriferous, have rounded dwarf habits and are densely branched. The new variety is a Hydrangea, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.