Balcenna

Coleus

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Rustic Orange'

Summary: The stems of 'Balcenna' are brown purple (RHS 151B) with very strong anthocyanin colouration while those of 'Rustic Orange' are green brown (RHS 187A) with very weak anthocyanin. The leaf blade margin is irregularly incised for 'Balcenna' whereas it is crenate for 'Rustic Orange'. Depth of the leaf blade margin incisions is moderate to deep for 'Balcenna' while it is shallow for 'Rustic Orange'. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'Balcenna' is brown purple mottled with light green whereas it is yellow brown mottled with red pink and with a yellow margin speckled with red for 'Rustic Orange'. The lower side of the leaf blade of 'Balcenna' is dark purple red while it is light yellow brown for 'Rustic Orange'. 'Balcenna' has stronger anthocyanin colouration of the petiole than 'Rustic Orange'.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, annual type, upright bushy growth habit, medium to many branches
STEM: brown purple, very strong anthocyanin colouration, sparse to moderate pubescence, thick, square shape in cross-section

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, simple type
LEAF BLADE: ovate, acuminate apex, obtuse to truncate base, irregularly incised margin, medium to deep incisions of margin, variegation present
LEAF BLADE (upper side): moderate pubescence, purple mid-rib and secondary veins, interveinal area is brown purple mottled with light green, margin is brown purple speckled with light green
LEAF BLADE (lower side): sparse and short pubescence on veins only, dark purple red
PETIOLE: strong to very strong anthocyanin colouration

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balcenna' originated from a cross pollination conducted in January 2004, at Dulce Nombre de Cartago in Costa Rica, as part of a controlled breeding program. The female parent was variety 'Duck's Foot' characterized by its scarlet foliage and upright plant growth habit. The male parent was a bulk pollen mix of Wizard varieties characterized by their green, red, magenta, yellow green and scarlet foliage, zoned and solid foliage colour patterns and upright plant growth habit. 'Balcenna' was selected on November 18, 2004 based on its vigour, foliage colour and plant growth habit.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Balcenna' were conducted during the summer of 2008 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 15 cm pots on August 12, 2008. Measured characteristics were based on measurements taken from 10 plants or parts of plants on September 19, 2008. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison table for 'Balcenna' with reference variety 'Rustic Orange'

Colour of leaf blade (RHS)

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Coleus: 'Balcenna' (left) with reference variety 'Rustic Orange' (right)

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Coleus: 'Balcenna' (left) with reference variety 'Rustic Orange' (right)

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Coleus: 'Balcenna' (left) with reference variety 'Rustic Orange' (right)