Jason

Bluebeard

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Worcester Gold'

Summary: 'Jason' has a taller plant height with a slightly more upright growth habit than 'Worcester Gold'. The stem internode length of 'Jason' is longer than in 'Worcester Gold'. 'Jason' has a shorter, wider, more ovate shaped leaf than 'Worcester Gold'. The inflorescence diameter of 'Jason' is slightly wider than 'Worcester Gold'. 'Jason' has smaller flowers than 'Worcester Gold'. The stamens of 'Jason' are shorter than 'Worcester Gold'.

Description:

'Jason' is a deciduous flowering shrub with an upright bushy growth habit. Plants have a strong degree of branching with dense foliage. The smooth stem is thin, with a strong degree of anthocyanin colouration and is red-brown in colour. There is no stem twisting present. The simple type leaves are arranged in an opposite fashion along the stem and are ovate to lanceolate in shape with a rounded cuspidate apex and obtuse shaped base. The leaf blade has a crenate margin with medium depth incisions. The upper side of the leaf blade has weak glossiness and absent to very sparse pubescence while on the lower side there is strong pubescence. The leaf has a strong fragrance. The newly opened leaf is a yellow colour. The upper and lower side of the fully expanded leaf is a yellow green colour while the leaf at the base of the plant is green. The leaf has a petiole present.

'Jason' has a compound cyme inflorescence. The erect flower is found both axillary and terminally. Each flower has 5 fused petals with a short corolla tube. There are four smaller flower corolla lobes and one with a larger lip and fringed margin. The flower bud is round in shape. The upper side of the flower petal is violet-blue in colour with a white eye zone present. The lower side of the flower petal is blue-violet to violet in colour. The filament is purple-blue in colour and the anther is a blue colour.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Jason' originated from a sport of Caryopteris incana discovered by the breeder in the summer of 1995 at the North Perrott Nursery in Crewkerne, Somerset, United Kingdom. It was selected based on its firm stems, attractive leaves, dark blue flower colour and strong growth habit.

Tests & Trials: Test and Trials were conducted outdoors during the summer of 2004 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 12 shrubs of each of the candidate and reference varieties, grown in one gallon plastic containers in May 2004 and then transplanted into 3 gallon containers in July 2004. Trials were arranged in rows with spacing of 1 meter between containers.

Comparison tables for 'Jason' with reference variety 'Worcester Gold'

Plant height (cm)

Stem internode length (mm)

Leaf blade length (mm)

Leaf blade width (mm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Flower length (mm)

Flower width (mm)

Stamen length (mm)