Hydrangea plant named ‘Fantasy’

#Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Fantasy’.

#Variety denomination: ‘Fantasy’.

#This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Saxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Fantasy’.

#The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

#FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, compact growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and pink sepals.

#FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a panicle of the new variety, showing opened, sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets.

#The plants shown in the figures are approximately 1 years old. The plant started out as cuttings, taken from the stem of a grown plant.

#‘Fantasy’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

#Origin: Controlled cross. Form: Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 17″ high and has a diameter of 16″ when grown in a 4″ pot with appropriate soil amendments. Growth: Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is large. The plant branches easily with shoots forming at the base of the plant. Lateral branches are similar in appearance and form to the main stems. Stems: Lenticels are present. Stems become woody as they age. The color of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S. 145 A (green group). Foliage: Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral branches. Shape of leaf.—Elliptic with acute base and apex. Margins are serrate. Texture.—Glabrous; veins dominate on the underside of the leaf and are sunken on the leaf surface. Color.—Mature leaves have an upper side that is R.H.S. 147 A (yellow — green group), and an under side that is R.H.S. 138 B (green group). Leaves are pinnately veined. The midvein and veins branching off the midvein are large and prominent on the underside of the leaves. Leaves are as wide as 5″ and 7.7″ long. Petioles are typically 1″ long.