Neon Star

Dianthus

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Firewitch'

Summary: 'Neon Star' has a shorter leaf and calyx than 'Firewitch'. The flower colour of 'Neon Star' is dark purple red while it is purple in 'Firewitch'. 'Neon Star' has longer styles than 'Firewitch'.

Description:

'Neon Star' is a hardy perennial, evergreen Dianthus variety with a compact, cushion type plant growth habit and medium spread. The plants are short with medium to dense foliage. Laterals with flower buds are present. The arrangement of individual flowers is one flowered. There are no stems without flower buds or flowers. 'Neon Star' has one internode between the epicalyx and the lowest node with budding or flowering laterals. The stems are thin to medium in thickness, circular in cross-section and not hollow. The leaves are linear in shape and straight along the longitudinal axis. In cross-section, the upper side of the leaf is weakly concave. The leaves are blue green to grey green in colour with a medium waxy layer and entire margin.

'Neon Star' begins flowering early to mid-season and flowers for a moderate amount of time. The flower buds are cylindrical in shape and the styles are extruded. The flowers are medium in diameter and the height of the corolla is short. When viewed from the side, the upper parts of the corolla are concave to flat while the lower parts are flat convex. The flowers are single and fragrant.

In relation to the calyx, the outer lobes of the epicalyx are adpressed. Both the inner and outer lobes of the epicalyx are short and have an acute shaped apex. The calyx is medium in length and cylindrical in shape. The longitudinal axis of the lobes of the calyx is flat to convex. The lobes of the calyx are long and short acute in shape with no anthocyanin colouration.

The predominant shape of the petals is type 2. The petals are short to medium in length and medium in width. The surface of the petals is undulating and the margin is serrate with shallow incisions. The flower colour for 'Neon Star' is dark purple-red. The ovary is ellipsoid in shape with a smooth surface and mainly green on the lower part. There are only two styles. They have no shoulder are medium to long in length and are white to cream in colour.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Neon Star' is the product of a breeding program which was established in 1969 in Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon, United Kingdom the focus of which was to produce dwarf varieties with a wide range of bright coloured perfume scented flowers with a long flowering season. 'Neon Star' was produced by induced hybridization in 1996 of the female parent 'Brehemen' and an unidentified male dianthus parent. It was selected in 1997 based on its intense magenta flower colour, compact habit and long flowering season.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted in a polyhouse at Oxford Station, Ontario during the summer 2005. Plants were individually grown in 15cm plastic pots with a pot spacing of 30cm.

Comparison table for 'Neon Star' with reference variety 'Firewitch'

Colour of petal blade (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Dianthus: 'Neon Star' (left) with reference variety 'Firewitch' (right)