Cherries Jubilee

Baptisia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Twilite'

Summary: The plants of 'Cherries Jubilee' are shorter than the plants of 'Twilite'. The leaf blade of 'Cherries Jubilee' is smaller than the leaf blade of 'Twilite'. The inflorescence of 'Cherries Jubilee' is shorter than 'Twilite'. The outer and inner side of the standard and the wings are brown purple for 'Cherries Jubilee' whereas the outer and inner side of the standard and wings are 'Twilite' is blue violet fading to a lighter blue violet. The keel for 'Cherries Jubilee' is yellow whereas the keel for 'Twilite' is blue violet fading to a lighter blue violet.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, perennial, upright-bushy and arching growth habit, medium degree of branching
STEM: light green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence, medium diameter, smooth shape

PETIOLE: present
LEAF: alternate arrangement along stem, trifoliate type, weak glaucosity on upper side, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower sides, light green on upper and lower side, no variegation
LEAFLET: oblanceolate shape, obtuse apex, attenuate base, entire margin

PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: terminal raceme type, erect attitude
COROLLA: partially fused arrangement of lobes, medium length and width, papilionaceous shape, absent or very weak undulation of margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on inner and outer side, inner and outer side of standard is brown purple (RHS 187A), outer side of wing is brown purple (RHS 187A), outer side of keel is yellow (RHS 8A)
FLOWERING PERIOD: flowers once early in the season for a short to medium length of time

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cherries Jubilee' originated from a controlled cross made in 2003 between unnamed selections of Baptisia sphaerocarpa and Baptisia minor. 'Cherries Jubilee' was selected in 2007 based on its flower colour and plant growth habit. All breeding work was conducted at Shady Oaks Nursery Ltd, Waseca, Minnesota, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Cherries Jubilee' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2015 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. There were 14 plants of 'Cherries Jubilee' and 15 plants of 'Twilite'. Each plant was grown in a 23 cm diameter pot, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of 'Cherries Jubilee' and 'Twilite'. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Cherries Jubilee' with reference variety 'Twilite'

Plant height (cm)

Leave length (cm)

Leave width (cm)

Inforesence length (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

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Baptisia: 'Cherries Jubilee' (right) with reference variety 'Twilite' (left)

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Baptisia: 'Cherries Jubilee' (right) with reference variety 'Twilite' (left)