Vision in Pink

Astilbe

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Superba'

Summary: 'Vision in Pink' has a shorter plant height than 'Superba'. 'Vision in Pink' has weaker anthocyanin colouration in the petiole and peduncle than 'Superba'. 'Vision in Pink' has a shorter inflorescence than 'Superba'. 'Vision in Pink' has light bluish-pink flower colour while 'Superba' has darker purple-violet flowers.

Description:

'Vision in Pink' has an upright bushy growth habit with sparse branching. The leaves are alternate in arrangement and bipinnate. The leaflets are ovate in shape with an acute shaped apex and attenuate shaped base. The leaflet margins are serrate and there are a few short hairs on the upper and lower side of the blade. The leaves are glossy and medium to dark green in colour on the upper side. The lower side of the leaf is medium green in colour. There is no leaf variegation. The petiole has weak to medium anthocyanin colouration.

'Vision in Pink' flowers mid-season and has a short length of flowering. The peduncle has weak to medium anthocyanin colouration and sparse pubescence. The inflorescence type is a panicle which is terminal in position and erect in attitude. The flowers are light bluish-pink in colour.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Vision in Pink' originated from a controlled cross between Astilbe chinensis 'Kremhilde' as the pollen parent and Astilbe chinensis 'Superba' as the seed parent. The initial cross was made in Noorden, The Netherlands in 1997. The objective of the breeding program was to develop an improved pink coloured variety.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Vision in Pink' were conducted at Oxford Station, Ontario in 2000 and 2001. The trials consisted of ten plants per variety grown under field conditions. Plants were spaced .40 metres within the row and rows were spaced 1.0 metre apart.

Comparison tables for 'Vision in Pink' with reference variety 'Superba'

Plant height (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Colour of bud (RHS)

Colour of flower (RHS)