SMNCVH

Bluebeard

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Janice' (Lil' Miss Sunshine)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'SMNCVH' is shorter than the leaf blade of 'Janice'. The leaf blade apex is obtuse for 'SMNCVH' whereas the apex is acute for 'Janice'. At mid-season, the upper side of the outer, unshaded leaf blade of 'SMNCVH' is light yellow and yellow orange with green tones whereas that of 'Janice' is darker yellow and yellow orange with green tones. At mid-season, the upper side of the inner, shaded leaf blade of 'SMNCVH' is brown green whereas the inner, shaded leaf blade of 'Janice' is dark green. The corolla of 'SMNCVH' is shorter than the corolla of 'Janice'. The inner side of the upper petal of the corolla is violet blue with light violet blue along the margin for 'SMNCVH' whereas it is violet blue for 'Janice'. The inner side of the lower lip of the corolla is violet blue with light violet blue along the margin for 'SMNCVH' whereas the inner side of the lower lip of the corolla of 'Janice' is violet blue with darker violet blue along the margin.

Description:

PLANT: shrub type, bushy growth habit, medium to dense branching, fast growth rate
STEM/SHOOT: purple brown shoot, brown to light brown stem, thin to medium thickness, dense pubescence, round in cross-section, smooth bark

LEAF: simple type, alternate arrangement along stem, absent or very weak waviness of margin, petiole present, ovate shape, obtuse apex, cordate and obtuse base, crenate margin, no lobing
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): no variegation, medium density of pubescence, outer unshaded leaves are light yellow (RHS 12C) and yellow orange (RHS 13B) with green tones at mid-season, inner shaded leaves are brown green (RHS 147B) at mid-season
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): medium density of pubescence, outer unshaded leaves are light yellow (RHS 12C) at mid-season, inner shaded leaves are brown green (RHS 148C) at mid-season, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on veins

FLOWER BUD: small, light purple, obconical shape, round apex, dense pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: cyme type, medium density of flowers
FLOWER: labiate shape, absent or very weak fragrance
UPPER PETAL (INNER SIDE): violet blue (RHS 92A) with light violet blue (92B) along margin
LOWER LIP (INNER SIDE): deeply fringed, violet blue (RHS 92A) with light violet blue (RHS 92B) along margin

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNCVH' was bred and developed by the breeder Timothy D. Wood, an employee of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc., in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. It originated from an open pollinated cross, in August 2005, in Grand Haven, between the Caryopteris incana variety 'Jason', as the female parent, and an unknown male parent. 'SMNCVH' was selected in July 2013 for its plant hardiness, foliage colour and plant growth habit. Asexual reproduction of 'SMNCVH' was first conducted using softwood cuttings in July 2013 in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNCVH' was conducted in an outdoor container trial during the summer of 2016, at Bioflora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from 11.5 cm rooted liners and transplanted into 13.5 litre containers on July 15, 2016. The trial was arranged outdoors in rows with 1 metre spacing between plants. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on September 23, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNCVH' with reference variety 'Janice'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade at mid-season (RHS)

Corolla length (cm)

Colour of inner side of corolla (RHS)

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Bluebeard: 'SMNCVH' (left) with reference variety 'Janice' (right)

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Bluebeard: 'SMNCVH' (left) with reference variety 'Janice' (right)

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Bluebeard: 'SMNCVH' (left) with reference variety 'Janice' (right)