Queen of Hearts

Brunnera

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Looking Glass' and 'Sterling Silver'

Summary: The plants of 'Queen of Hearts' are larger than those of 'Looking Glass' and 'Sterling Silver'. The leaf blade of 'Queen of Hearts' is larger than those of the reference varieties. Colour 1 on the upper side of the leaf blade of 'Queen of Hearts' covers a small area while that of the reference varieties covers a very small area. Colour 2 on the upper side of the leaf blade of 'Queen of Hearts' covers a large area while that of the reference varieties covers a very large area. The petiole of 'Queen of Hearts' is longer than those of the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: perennial, upright-bushy and mounded growth habit, absent or very sparse branching

PETIOLE: present
LEAF: rosette arrangement, simple, reniform, acute to acuminate apex, cordate base, entire margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): medium density of pubescence, absent or very weak glaucosity, colour 1 is dark green to dark brown green (RHS 137A-B) along margin and veins covering a small area, colour 2 is light grey green (RHS 190D-192D) between veins covering a large area
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): medium density of pubescence, ranging between dark brown green and medium brown green (RHS 146B/C)

FLOWERING TIME: early season, short period
INFLORESCENCE: cyme type, terminal position, erect to semi-erect attitude
PETALS: open arrangement, five in number, small sized, rounded shape, light blue (RHS 104D to 107D) upper side, light blue (RHS 107D) lower side

Origin & Breeding History: 'Queen of Hearts' originated from the cross between the variety 'Alexander`s Great' and a proprietary seedling, conducted in May 2015 at a nursery in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. The new variety was selected in September 2016 based on distinct foliage type and plant habit. The new seedling was originally asexually propagated by division in September, 2016 at Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA and subsequently by division and tissue culture.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Queen of Hearts' was conducted outdoors during the summer of 2022 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each of the candidate and reference varieties. The plants were grown in 16 cm pots with 40 cm spacing between pots under a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of 10 plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on Student's t-tests.

Comparison tables for 'Queen of Hearts' with reference varieties 'Looking Glass' and 'Sterling Silver'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Brunnera: 'Queen of Hearts' (centre) with reference varieties 'Looking Glass' (left) and 'Sterling Silver' (right)