Kapu

Blue Honeysuckle

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Taka', 'Tana' and 'Borealis'

Summary: The plants of 'Kapu' are taller than those of 'Taka' and 'Borealis'. The bud burst and beginning of flowering of 'Kapu' occur mid-season whereas the bud burst and flowering of 'Borealis' occurs early in the season. The leaf blade of 'Kapu' is smaller than the leaf blade of 'Tana' and 'Borealis' and wider than the leaf blade of 'Taka'. The tip of the leaf blade of 'Kapu' is obtuse while the leaf blade tip of 'Taka' and 'Borealis' is acute. The fruit of 'Kapu' begins ripening late in the season whereas the fruit of 'Borealis' begins ripening early in the season. The fruit of 'Kapu' is wider than the fruit of 'Borealis'. In lateral view, the fruit of 'Kapu' are ovate and broad oblong while the fruit of 'Taka' are narrow oblong. The eye opening of the fruit of 'Kapu' is large while it is medium sized for the eye opening of the fruit of the reference varieties. The fruit surface of 'Kapu' is intermediate (between smooth and rough) while the fruit surface of 'Taka' and 'Tana' is smooth.

Description:

PLANT: medium vigour, upright to spreading growth habit, medium degree of branching, mid-season bud burst
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: no lenticels, absent or very sparse pubescence, red brown bark, strong development of adventitious buds
SHOOT TIP: absent or sparse pubescence, absent or weak glossiness of bark, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration

YOUNG LEAF: medium to dense pubescence at base
LEAF BLADE: moderately elongated (length to width ratio 2:1), obtuse apex, sparse pubescence on upper side, medium pubescence on lower side, dark green on upper side in spring, medium green on upper side in summer
STEM-CLASPING LEAF: medium to large

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: mid-season
SEPAL: medium length, medium width
FLOWER: dense pubescence on corolla tube, horizontal to downwards attitude, style longer than anther

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: late season
FRUIT: narrow elliptic in cross-section, ovate and broad oblong in lateral view, calyx end is mostly truncate, no fruit tip, large eye opening, surface is intermediate (between smooth and rough), tufts of hairs at apex present
FRUIT SKIN: strong bloom, dark intensity of blue colour

Origin & Breeding History: 'Kapu' originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred in Bibai, Japan. It was bred and developed by the breeder Dr. Maxine M. Thompson. The cross was made between an unnamed Japanese Haskap female parent plant designated '#8' and an unknown male parent. The resulting seeds were collected and sown in Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A. From the resulting progeny, 'Kapu' was selected as a single seedling in 2014 based on its plant growth habit, plant vigour; fruit appearance, taste and yield; frost, disease and pest tolerance. 'Kapu' was first propagated by hardwood stem cuttings in 2004 in Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Kapu' was conducted in the field and examined during the summer of 2018 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate variety and 7 plants each of the reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted in the field on June 9, 2016. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety at various times throughout the summer of 2018. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Kapu' with reference varieties 'Taka', 'Tana' and 'Borealis'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Fruit width (mm)

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Blue Honeysuckle: 'Kapu' (left) with reference variety 'Taka' (right)

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Blue Honeysuckle: 'Kapu' (left) with reference variety 'Borealis' (right)

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Blue Honeysuckle: 'Kapu' (top right) with reference varieties 'Tana' (top left), 'Taka' (bottom left), and 'Borealis' (bottom right)