Adokeep

Butterfly Bush

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Nanho Blue'

Summary: 'Adokeep' is a butterfly bush variety that has very weak to weak anthocyanin on the stems, whereas the reference variety 'Nanho Blue' has medium to strong anthocyanin on the stems. 'Adokeep' has longer and wider leaves than 'Nanho Blue' and also longer and wider inflorescences. The flowers of 'Adokeep' are a darker violet blue than the flowers of the reference variety.

Description:

'Adokeep' is a variety of butterfly bush which has a bushy rounded growth habit. 'Adokeep' has many branches and moderately dense foliage. The stems are medium in thickness, with very weak to weak anthocyanin colouration. The leaves are simple and lanceolate in shape, with an acuminate apex and cuneate base. The leaf margin is finely serrate. 'Adokeep' has moderately glossy leaves which have medium pubescence on the upper side and dense, tomentose pubescence on the lower side. The main colour of the upper side of the leaf is dark green and the lower side is grey green.

'Adokeep' has an erect, panicle type inflorescence, with medium fragrance. The flower buds are oblong and deep blue violet in colour. The flowers are both terminal and axillary in position and salverform in shape. The flowers have 4 to 5 petals which are fused at the base. The petals are rounded to spatulate in shape, with a rounded apex. The petal margins are irregularly dentate and medium to strong in undulation. The main colour of the upper side of the petals is violet blue. The corolla tube is orange on the inner side and purple red on the outer side.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Adokeep' originated from an open pollinated cross with unnamed seedlings derived from Buddleja davidii 'Dartmoor', conducted in 1985 at the breeder's nursery in East Malling, United Kingdom. The new variety was selected based on the compact habit, improved flower colour and large bloom size. The new variety was first propagated by softwood cuttings in 1995, in East Malling, West Malling, United Kingdom.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Adokeep' were conducted in an outdoor container trial in the summer of 2004-2005, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 shrubs of each variety. All shrubs were grown from 4 inch liners, planted into 2 gallon containers in May 2004 and transplanted into 3 gallon containers July 2, 2004. Trials were arranged outdoors in rows with approximately 1 metre spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 6, 2005. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001.

Comparison tables for 'Adokeep' with reference variety 'Nanho Blue'

Leaf length, including petiole (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Diameter of inflorescence (cm)

Length of inflorescence (cm)

Colour of bud

Main colour of petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Butterfly Bush: 'Adokeep' (left) with reference variety 'Nanho Blue' (right)