Lady In Red Hydrangea

‘Lady in Red’ Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lady in Red’ #15,175
Information provided by:
Dr. Michael A. Dirr, UGA-Dept. of Horticulture
Center for Applied Nursery Research (CANR)
All literature and images ©Michael A. Dirr

Developed by Dr. Michael A. Dirr at the Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia. This breakthrough hydrangea is an open-pollinated seedling of ‘Otaksa’.

‘Lady in Red’ is the first protected (patented) release from the University of Georgia plant improvement program: ‘Continued Adventures in Plant Improvement in the Department of Horticulture and Center for Applied Nursery Research’ by Michael A. Dirr, UGA-Dept. of Horticulture.

This study is testing seedlings of Viburnum, Abelia, Buddleia, Lagerstroemia, and Hydrangea. Within the Hydrangea testing, further research is being done on seedlings of Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea serrata with goals of improved remontant (reblooming) flowering, compactness, strong stems, colorful stems, mildew resistance, lustrous leathery dark green foliage, fall color and cold hardiness.

Excerpt from: ‘Continued Adventures in Plant Improvement in the Department of Horticulture and Center for Applied Nursery Research’ by Michael A. Dirr, UGA-Dept. of Horticulture.

The Hydrangea work has been exciting, educational and productive. My research technician, Vickie Waters-Oldham, and student assistant, Josh Kardos, have orchestrated everything from crosses, germination to evaluation. All of us take immense pride in the program.

The learning curve for hydrangeas has been exhilarating, almost like riding a roller coaster, but with only highs. A book was spawned from the research, reading, travel, and observations, which will be published by Timber Press in May, 2004. Accompanying this will be a CD with 900 photos of hydrangeas; the book will have 200. The title is Hydrangeas for American Gardens. A new DVD is available and contains the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, 72 search criteria and 7,600 images on a single disk.