Hot Summer

Coneflower

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Tomato Soup'

Summary: The plants of 'Hot Summer' are taller than those of 'Tomato Soup'. The leaves of 'Hot Summer' are larger than those of 'Tomato Soup'. The upper and lower sides of the ray florets of 'Hot Summer' differ in colour from those of 'Tomato Soup'. The discs of 'Hot Summer' are larger than those of 'Tomato Soup'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, basal branches with lateral branching
STEM: thick, round, light green, dense pubescence, no anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: alternate arrangement, ovate, acute apex, attenuate base, entire margin, weak undulation of margin, dark green on upper side, strong pubescence, no glossiness, no anthocyanin colouration on upper side, petiole present

PEDUNCLE: no waviness
CALYX: light green, reflexing of sepals present
FLOWER: single type
RAY FLORET: downward attitude of longitudinal axis, weak reflexing of tip, emarginate and cleft apex, when newly opened orange red to orange (RHS N25A-C) with orange brown (RHS 34B) at apex on upper side, when fully opened dark purple red (RHS N34A) with red to orange brown (RHS 34A-B) towards apex on upper side, when mature dark purple red (RHS 53B) with dark pink red to orange brown (RHS N34C-D) towards apex on upper side, lower side orange pink (RHS 27A) streaked with purple (RHS 60C) when fully opened
DISC FLORET: dark purple red (RHS 53A)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Hot Summer' originated as a product of a planned breeding and selection program conducted by the breeder Marco van Noort in Warmond, The Netherlands. The Echinacea variety was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation of a plant of unknown origin in the breeders' field trial in Warmond, in the summer of 2007. The origin is unclear as the field trial included numerous cultivars and species of Echinacea. The combined characteristics of 'Hot Summer' suggest that the parentage includes both Echinacea paradoxa and Echinacea purpurea. The new variety was selected in the summer of 2007 based on flower colour, branching habit, growth habit and disease tolerance. Asexual reproduction of 'Hot Summer' by in vitro propagation was first conducted in Rijswijk, The Netherlands in 2008.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Hot Summer' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2010, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings planted into 15 cm pots on May 31, 2010. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 26, 2010. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Hot Summer' with reference variety 'Tomato Soup'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of upper side of ray floret (RHS)

Colour of lower side of ray floret (RHS)

Disc diameter (cm)

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Coneflower: 'Hot Summer' (left) with reference variety 'Tomato Soup' (right)

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Coneflower: 'Hot Summer' (left) with reference variety 'Tomato Soup' (right)