Gages Shadow

Coleus

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balmagnilla' (Magilla Vanilla)

Summary: The plants of 'Gage's Shadow' are taller with weaker branching than those of 'Balmagnilla'. The stems of 'Gage's Shadow' are dark purple with very strong anthocyanin colouration while those of 'Balmagnilla' are light green with broad red purple streaks and medium to strong anthocyanin. 'Gage's Shadow' has longer leaves than 'Balmagnilla'. The upper side of the leaf blade for 'Gage's Shadow' is brown purple with the occasional, bright purple spot and dark green on and around the secondary veins while for 'Balmagnilla', it is brown green with light yellow on and around the basal part of the mid-rib and secondary veins. The lower side of the leaf blade is dark brown purple with violet on the veins for 'Gage's Shadow' whereas for 'Balmagnilla', it is brown green with light yellow on and around the apical part of the mid-rib and dark violet on the basal part of the mid-rib and basal secondary veins.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated annual type, upright bushy growth habit, weak to moderate degree of branching
STEM: dark purple, very strong anthocyanin colouration, very short and dense pubescence, thick, edged surface (square in cross-section)

LEAF: arranged opposite to each other along stem, simple type
LEAF BLADE: ovate, acuminate or acute apex, cuneate base, crenate margin, medium depth of incisions of margin, sparse to medium density of stiff / bristle-like pubescence on upper side, medium density on veins only on lower side, variegation present, upper side is brown purple with occasional bright purple spot and dark green on and around the secondary veins (amount of green around secondary veins increases with age), lower side is dark brown purple with violet on the veins
PETIOLE: strong anthocyanin colouration

Origin & Breeding History: 'Gage's Shadow' was developed by Cheryl, David, Gage and Robert Baker. It originated from an open pollinated cross between the Coleus variety 'Felix' as the female parent and the Perilla variety 'Magilla' as the male parent. The cross took place in Mentone, Alabama, USA in spring 2001. The selection of 'Gage's Shadow' was based on its' foliage size and appearance, dense plant habit, good branching and tolerance to heat.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Gage's Shadow' were conducted in a poly-house during the summer of 2007 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of fifteen (15) plants per variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm pots on May 8, 2007. Most observations and measurements were taken from ten (10) plants or parts of plants on July 7, 2007. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Gages Shadow' with reference variety 'Balmagnilla'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of lower side of leaf blade (RHS)

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Coleus: 'Gage's Shadow' (left) with reference variety 'Balmagnilla' (right)

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Coleus: 'Gage's Shadow' (left) with reference variety 'Balmagnilla' (right)

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Coleus: 'Gage's Shadow' (left) with reference variety 'Balmagnilla' (right)