Summer Skies
| Denomination: | 'Summer Skies' |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name: | Buddleja davidii |
| Applicant/Holder: |
University of Connecticut University of Connecticut Health Center MC6400 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, Connecticut 06030 United States of America |
| Breeder: |
Mark Henry Brand, University of Connecticut, Storrs, United States of America William Smith, Grand Haven, United States of America |
| Agent in Canada: |
BioFlora Inc. 38723 Fingal Line R.R. #1 St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3S5 Canada Tel: 519-317-7511 |
| Application Date: | 2011-09-23 |
| Application Number: | 11-7373 |
| Grant of Rights Date: | 2013-11-27 |
| Certificate Number: | 4657 |
| Date rights surrendered: | 2015-11-03 |
Variety Description
Variety used for comparison: 'Santana'
Summary: The plant growth habit for 'Summer Skies' is semi-upright whereas it is spreading for 'Santana'. 'Summer Skies' has larger leaf blades than 'Santana'. The upper side of the leaf blade is medium green with white variegation for 'Summer Skies' while it is light green with yellow green variegation for 'Santana'. 'Summer Skies' has a longer inflorescence than 'Santana'. The inner side of the corolla lobe for 'Summer Skies' is light blue violet with violet blue at the margin while it is violet with lighter violet at the center for 'Santana'.
Description:
PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, broader than tall
SHOOT: new shoots are green, old shoots are brownish
STEM: moderately angular in cross-section, medium dense pubescence
LEAF BLADE: lanceolate to narrow ovate, medium green with white variegation on upper side, dentate margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper side, pubescence present on lower side, absent or weak bulging between veins
INFLORESCENCE: begins flowering mid-season to late, conical, density of florets is medium
CALYX: medium length, medium dense pubescence
COROLLA: orange eye
COROLLA LOBE: attitude is semi-erect, arrangement is not touching, absent or shallow incisions of margin, colour of inner side is light blue violet (RHS 85A-B) with violet blue (RHS 91A) at margin
Origin & Breeding History: 'Summer Skies' was bred and developed by the breeders at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. It was derived from the chemical mutagenesis of a seed lot of Buddleja davidii Assorted Colours. It was discovered and selected in June 2007 based on its phenotypic anomalies which included leaf variegation that is green with pale yellow sectors that fade to white, upright and freely branching plant growth habit, and abundant, long flowering panicles. The first asexual propagation of 'Summer Skies' was conducted in June 2007 in Storrs, Connecticut.
Tests & Trials: The PBR trial for 'Summer Skies' was conducted outdoors during the summer of 2012 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from 11.5 cm rooted liners and transplanted into 13.5 litre containers on July 8, 2011. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on August 8, 2012. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Charts.
Comparison tables for 'Summer Skies' with reference variety 'Santana'
Leaf blade length (cm)
| 'Summer Skies' | 'Santana' | |
|---|---|---|
| mean | 15.3 | 10.0 |
| std. deviation | 0.62 | 0.59 |
Leaf blade width (cm)
| 'Summer Skies' | 'Santana' | |
|---|---|---|
| mean | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| std. deviation | 0.20 | 0.11 |
Inflorescence length (cm)
| 'Summer Skies' | 'Santana' | |
|---|---|---|
| mean | 20.8 | 8.4 |
| std. deviation | 3.16 | 1.01 |
Colour of corolla lobe (RHS)
| 'Summer Skies' | 'Santana' | |
|---|---|---|
| inner side | 85A-B with 91A developing at margin | N81A-B with close to N81D at centre |
Click on image for larger view
Butterfly Bush: 'Summer Skies' (above) with reference variety 'Santana' (below)
Click on image for larger view
Butterfly Bush: 'Summer Skies' (left) with reference variety 'Santana' (right)
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