I would go on line and get hard copies - if available - of nurseries that specialize in Hydrangeas. Here are the sources that I use, Joy Creek Nursery, Great Plant Picks, Monrovia, Hydrangeas Plus. this should be a good start. Google them for the url to the nursery. I am sure there are some closer to your state and zone.

Oh lord. I do not think that is practical. For example, there so many mopheads around that visual inspection makes you realize that new names/patents are given to shrubs that are way too similar.

This happens sometimes when one particular shrub sells well. Then the competition starts selling similar ones. For example, I am noticing a lot of new introductions like Vanilla Strawberry! Have you noticed that too??? I sometimes even wonder if bloom pics are tweaked to highlight magenta colors like VSs.

In theory, the "patent application" should discuss identifying characteristics. I have run into the gov patent website when gogling questions about hydrangeas. Google has a copy of sorts under www.google.com/patents:

http://www.google.com/patents/US20130269074

But notice that the plant name is usually not chosen when the patent is filed. The link above is the patent for Pistachio, that is, "Horwack" is the name in the patent but it is marketed as Pistachio. Oh, lord. Another problem with the info in the website... pictures are black/white and of poor quality. And then, some resellers seem to reintroduce old ones with new names. Think Mathilda Gutges and LA Dreaming!

I have not checked but wonder if the website info is only for recent plants only. I somehow doubt the data collection would include the ones that are no longer patent protected???

What a mess for us.... ;o). Ha! Sorry if my terms above are incorrect; I am not a patent person. Hee hee hee.

Perhaps we ought to wait for a newer updated version of Dirr's book? Ha. Just kidding.

There is no definitive source nor do I believe there will ever be one. It is very possible that some new resource will hit the market that gives details about the more recent introductions but even that may not be sufficient. And for the reasons luis outlined above - too many cultivars with too similar an appearance. It is the same situation with plants like Japanese maples, clematis, heucheras and even hostas..........you may be able to get close but often the distinctions between two similar looking cultivars are too subtle to make an accurate ID unless you are an expert. And while there are some very skilled and experienced hydrangea growers here, none of us are in the "expert" category :-)) Some - like the Pistachio mentioned above - will be readily apparent. Others not at all!

I thought as much. Have any of you looked at Dirr's website? I have no idea what it's trying to do with the 'photo banks' of pictures. Where are the names? It is clearly unfinished and incomplete and it adds to the confusion.

Actually, my question arises from a relatively simple problem: I have "only: ' about 10 different hydrangeas and I remember my purchases but not which plants the names belong to. I'm pretty sure I could post photos and you folks could match names with photos. But I really wanted to stare at some photos and a piece of plant and figure it out.

thanks for the thoughtful comments.

Marie

Yes, you could post pictures and see if people can comment. Probably easier.

If these 10 hydrangeas have active patents, you could google the trade name to see what is the patent name (usually displayed in plant nursery web pages). Then google in google's patent's website to find the identifying characteristics in the patent to see if that also helps.

For example, if I google hydrangea pistachio, I find some ads in which they show its patent name of Horwack. Then I go to url https://patents.google.com and enter hydrangea horwack to see what comes up. I select the patent and read the identifying characteristics. But it is easier to post pictures... :o)

If you post pictures, for each plant, I suggest including pics of the blooms and of the shrub.

I've certainly tried the simple google but all the 'look alikes' and normal variations of a single plant are what drove me to ask for a more discerning tool. Google is not discerning! Sometimes more an information dump.

So thanks for the patent research idea. I've never approached plant id that way and if nothing else, I'll have learned something new.

I love Dirr. He's older than I am and I really want to hear him speak while he's still speaking! My favorite line is about Kousa Dogwood fruit " edible but I prefer a Snickers"

I also have his Viburnum book. Now there's another confounding plant group!

I've heard him speak and I've actually met him! He is a charming man and is obviously a plant geek.....he just kind of lights up when he starts talking about them. I have both his hydrangea and viburnum books and he signed one of them for me......but this early in the morning I don't remember which one and too lazy to go and check :-))

I'm only up this early because I had to take my sister to catch an early ferry to make an airline flight connection. Haven't had my quota of caffeine yet so brain not yet firing on all cylinders.