HS Date

Dahlia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Volkskanzler'

Summary: 'HS Date' has strong anthocyanin colouration on the stems and peduncles whereas 'Volkskanzler' has weak anthocyanin. 'HS Date' has larger leaves with deeper incisions on the margins than 'Volkskanzler'. The flower head of 'HS Date' is smaller in diameter than the reference variety. The two varieties also differ in the main colour of the upper side of the ray floret.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit
STEM: light green, strong anthocyanin spreading from nodes

LEAF: compound, few to medium number of leaflets, dark green, wings present, many moderately deep incisions on margin, weakly rugose texture, flat veins

PEDUNCLE: medium length, very strong anthocyanin
FLOWER HEAD: high above to moderately above foliage, upright relative to peduncle, single, regular bicolour, orange red
RAY FLORET: straight longitudinal axis, weakly concave in cross section, flat lateral margin, rounded tip, uneven colour distribution, regular bicolour, zoned colour pattern, orange main colour, red secondary colour in basal zone, light yellow orange with pink tones on lower side
DISC: large relative to flower head diameter, yellow green before dehiscence, yellow at dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'HS Date' was developed by the breeder at the nursery of Fa. Gebr. Verwer in Lisse, The Netherlands. The variety originated from an open pollinated cross between the female parent, an unidentified Dahlia plant and pollen of an unidentified Dahlia plant as the male parent. The cross was conducted in 1998. A single seedling was selected in 1999, based on criteria for flower colour, plant habit, dark foliage and self-cleaning flowers.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'HS Date' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate variety and 10 plants of the reference variety. Plants of the candidate were grown from rooted cuttings, planted in 15 cm pots on May 24, 2006. Plants of the reference variety were grown from tubers, planted in 15 cm pots on April 25, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of the candidate variety on July 20, 2006 and the reference variety on June 26, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001.

Comparison tables for 'HS Date' with reference variety 'Volkskanzler'

Leaf length, including petiole (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Diameter of flower head (cm)

Main colour of ray floret (RHS)

Secondary colour of ray floret (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Dahlia: 'HS Date' (left) with reference variety 'Volkskanzler' (right)