Balaublach

Coleus

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Ducksfoot Yellow'

Summary: Anthocyanin colouration of the stems of 'Balaublach' is medium whereas it is absent to weak in 'Ducksfoot Yellow'. The leaf blades of 'Balaublach' are elliptic in shape with a crenate margin and medium deep incisions, whereas those of 'Ducksfoot Yellow' range from obovate to nearly rhomboidal with deeply lobed margins. The flowers of 'Balaublach' have a longer lower corolla lobe than those of 'Ducksfoot Yellow'.

Description:

'Balaublach' is a vegetatively propagated annual coleus variety with a bushy-rounded growth habit and a moderate to high degree of branching. The stems are of medium thickness, light green in colour with moderate anthocyanin colouration, medium to dense pubescence, and edged in shape. The leaves are simple and opposite. The leaf blades are elliptic in shape and have an acute apex with a blunt tip and a cuneate to attenuate base. The leaf blade margins are crenate with medium deep incisions, moderate pubescence on the upper side and moderate to strong pubescence on the lower side. The leaf blades are variegated. The upper side of the leaf blades has dark purple red veins with purple tones, dark brown interveinal area and a brown green margin with yellow at the base. The lower side of the leaf blades has light yellow veins, dark purple red interveinal area and a brown green margin with yellow at the base. The petiole has medium to strong anthocyanin.

The density of flowers in the inflorescences of 'Balaublach' is low. The stem of the inflorescence is yellow with moderate to strong anthocyanin. The flowers have a white upper lobe with a light violet blue margin, and a long, violet blue lower lobe.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balaublach' was developed from a controlled breeding program conducted at Cartago, Costa Rica, in January 2002 . The female parent was variety 'Duck's Foot' and the male parent was variety 'Wizard'. The initial selection of 'Balaublach' was made in August 2002. Further propagation has been by vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted in a poly house in St. Thomas, Ontario during the summer of 2005. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties which were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 6 inch pots on April 28, 2005. Observations and measurements were taken from ten plants of each variety. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balaublach' with reference variety 'Ducksfoot Yellow'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of lower side of leaf blade (RHS)

Petiole length (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Flower length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Coleus: 'Balaublach' (left) with reference variety 'Ducksfoot Yellow' (right)