Filips Magic Moment

Cedar

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sunkist'

Summary: The colour of the stem of the branchlet of the first order is mostly medium green for 'Filips Magic Moment' whereas the stem of the branchlet of the first order is yellow green for 'Sunkist'. The branchlet of the first order of 'Filips Magic Moment' is larger than the branchlet of the first order of 'Sunkist'. The branchlet of the second order of 'Filips Magic Moment' is longer than the branchlet of the second order of 'Sunkist'. In spring and summer, the percent coverage of yellow secondary colouration of the leaves is less for 'Filips Magic Moment' in comparison to the yellow secondary colouration of the leaves of 'Sunkist'. In summer, the main colour of the outer side of the leaf from the upper part of the outermost branches of 'Filips Magic Moment' is light yellow whereas the outer side of the leaf from the upper part of the outermost branches of 'Sunkist' is yellow orange.

Description:

SHRUB: evergreen type, conical shape, medium to dense foliage, light green and yellow colour group, medium to many branches

BRANCH: erect to semi-erect attitude, medium degree of stiffness, dark brown with reddish brown tones when aged
BRANCHLET OF FIRST ORDER: medium to dense second order branchlets, mostly medium green stem
BRANCHLET OF SECOND ORDER: sparse to medium density of third order branchlets

LEAF: decussate arrangement around axis of branchlet, scale-like shape, adpressed attachment, acute shape of apex, entire margin, involute margin fold
LEAF IN SPRING (OUTER SIDE): yellow orange (RHS 13B-C) with dark green to light green (RHS144A-B) at base changing to only dark green to light green (RHS144A-B) on leaf located towards lower part of branchlet
LEAF FROM UPPER PART OF OUTERMOST BRANCHES IN SUMMER (OUTER SIDE): main colour is light yellow (RHS 10A with 11C)
LEAF FROM LOWER PART OF OUTERMOST BRANCHES IN SUMMER (OUTER SIDE): main colour is light green (RHS 144B-C) changing to green (RHS 143C) on leaf located towards lower part of branches
LEAF FROM INNER PART OF BANCHES IN SUMMER (OUTER SIDE): brown green (RHS 137B-C)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Filips Magic Moment' was discovered and developed by the breeder, Edwin Johannes Arnoldes Smits, an employee of Boomkwekerij Edwin Smits in Meerkensweg 8, Volkel, Netherlands. It was discovered as a naturally occurring branch mutation of the Thuja occidentalis variety 'Smaragd' during the summer of 2000. 'Filips Magic Moment' was selected during that same year for its plant growth habit, golden yellow foliage colour in summer, orange-yellow foliage colour in winter, and good plant hardiness. It was first asexually propagated by hardwood cuttings in October 2000 in Volkel, Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Filips Magic Moment' was conducted as an outdoor irrigated container trial during the summer of 2014 and spring of 2015 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from 5.5 cm liners that were each planted into a 9 litre container on June 7, 2013. The trial was arranged in rows with approximately 60 cm spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 shrubs or parts of shrubs on August 25, 2014, except spring observations and measurements which were taken on April 14, 2015. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Filips Magic Moment' with reference variety 'Sunkist'

Length of branchlet of first order (cm)

Width of branchlet of first order (cm)

Length of branchlet of second order (cm)

Colour of leaf from upper part of outermost branches in summer (RHS)

Colour of leaf from lower part of outermost branches in summer (RHS)

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Cedar: 'Filips Magic Moment' (left) with reference variety 'Sunkist' (right)

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Cedar: 'Filips Magic Moment' (left) with reference variety 'Sunkist' (right)

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Cedar: 'Filips Magic Moment' (left) with reference variety 'Sunkist' (right)