Sparkling Sapphires

Baptisia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Blueberry Sundae'

Summary: The plants of 'Sparkling Sapphires' are shorter than those of 'Blueberry Sundae'. The terminal leaflet is wider for 'Sparkling Sapphires' than for 'Blueberry Sundae'. The leaf blade for 'Sparkling Sapphires' is elliptical in shape with a retuse apex and a cuneate base while that of 'Blueberry Sundae' is oblanceolate with an obtuse apex and an attenuate base. The leaf blade petiole is absent for 'Sparkling Sapphires' while it is present for 'Blueberry Sundae'. The terminal leaflet is wider for 'Sparkling Sapphires' than for 'Blueberry Sundae'. The inner side of the corolla standard of 'Sparkling Sapphires' is violet blue while that of 'Blueberry Sundae' is violet blue with a violet blue to light violet blue margin. The outer side of the corolla standard of 'Sparkling Sapphires' is violet blue to dark violet blue while that of 'Blueberry Sundae' is violet blue to light violet blue.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, perennial, upright-bushy growth habit, medium degree of branching

STEM: light green, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, weak to medium degree of glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence, medium thickness, smooth

LEAF: alternate arrangement, trifoliate type, elliptic, retuse apex, cuneate base, entire margin, weak glaucosity on upper side, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower side, light green on upper and lower side, no variegation, petiole absent

PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: raceme, terminally positioned, erect attitude
COROLLA: partially fused arrangement of lobes, medium length, medium width, papilionaceous, absent or very weak undulation of margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on inner and outer side
STANDARD: inner side is violet blue (RHS N92B/C), outer side is violet blue or dark violet (RHS 93C/D)
WING: inner and outer side is dark violet (RHS N92C/D) to violet blue (RHS 93B)
KEEL: inner side is white (RHS 155 C/D)

FLOWERING PERIOD: short to medium length, flowers once early in the season

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sparkling Sapphires' originated as a result of a cross made between a Baptisia sphaerocarpa selection designated 'Linda', as the female parent, and an unnamed proprietary Baptisia minor hybrid, as the male parent. The cross occurred in the spring of 2009 in Waseca, Minnesota, USA. The method of breeding was line crossing with plants selected in 2011 based on flower colour, flower frequency and growth habit. The variety was initially propagated by stem cuttings in 2012.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Sparkling Sapphires' was conducted in a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric during the spring of 2019 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The plants were grown in 28 cm round pots, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Sparkling Sapphires' with reference variety 'Blueberry Sundae'

Plant height (excluding the flowering stems) (cm)

Plant height (including flowering stem) (cm)

Terminal leaflet width (cm)

Colour of corolla standard (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Baptisia: 'Sparkling Sapphires' (left) with reference variety 'Blueberry Sundae' (right)