Miss Saori hydrangea now available in the US
It’s a brand new Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar with star-shaped double flowers that open in June with deep rose petal margins that soften into white with pink accents. The flowers maintain their color, regardless of the soil pH. Hardy to zone 5a, Miss Saori blooms on new and old wood, avoiding the classic bigleaf problem of winterkill resulting in few or no flowers.
Peter van Rijssen of Concept Plants introduced Miss Saori under the Plantipp umbrella. The plant has been undergoing a mandatory two-year quarantine for hydrangeas introduced into the United States. The plant debuted to green industry acclaim at Cultivate in 2016, shown off by Peter in his custom Miss Saori jacket and shoes.
The plant so captivated Japanese breeder Irie San that he named it after his then fiancé, now wife, Saori. Everyone who “meets” Miss Saori is equally enamored. Nan Pritchard, Merchandise Director from Spring Hill Nurseries of Tipp City, Ohio, where consumers can order individual plants says, “When we first spotted H. ’Miss Saori’ we were stopped in our tracks, and knew we had to add it to our assortment as quickly as possible. The ‘picotee’ effect of the red and white petals is reminiscent of begonias and creates a focal point in the border. It was the most interesting Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar (in a sea of introductions) that we saw in 2016.”
Anthony Hoke, owner of Silver Falls Nursery in Salem, Oregon, the entry point for Miss Saori in the United States, is entranced by a different aspect of the plant: the foliage. “While the flower is spectacular, the burgundy hues in the leaves really stand out to me. They are a perfect contrast to the pink petals and make the plant visually interesting in the landscape even when it isn’t in flower.”
Consumers can purchase Miss Saori by visiting Spring Hill Nursery online at www.springhillnursery.com or consult their favorite mail order company catalog.
Wholesale growers can order Miss Saori liners by contacting Silver Falls Nursery at www.silverfallsnursery.com.
For more information about Miss Saori and other Concept Plants introductions, visit www.conceptplants.com.