SMNSRD4

Elderberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sutherland Gold'

Summary: The growth rate of the plants of 'SMNSRD4' is medium whereas the growth rate of the plants of 'Sutherland Gold' is slow. The plants of 'SMNSRD4' are broader than the plants of 'Sutherland Gold'. The leaf blade of 'SMNSRD4' is longer than the leaf blade of 'Sutherland Gold'. The leaflet blade margin of 'SMNSRD4' plants has deeper sinuses than the leaflet blade margin of 'Sutherland Gold'. At mid-season, the upper side of the new leaves, from the upper part of the shoot, of 'SMNSRD4' is yellow with green brown tones, whereas the upper side of the new leaves of 'Sutherland Gold' is yellow orange. At mid-season, the upper side of the lower leaves, from the lower part of the shoot, of 'SMNSRD4' is dark green whereas that of 'Sutherland Gold' is light green.

Description:

PLANT: shrub type, bushy growth habit, dense branching, medium growth rate
SHOOT / STEM: light green shoot, grey brown stem, medium thickness, absent or very sparse pubescence, round shape in cross-section, rough bark texture, medium number of lenticels

LEAF: pinnately compound, alternate arrangement along stem, no variegation, no rugosity, weak waviness of margin, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of the petiole
LEAF BLADE: lanceolate shape, acuminate apex, attenuate to cuneate base, margin is incised with very deep sinuses of varying depth, no lobing
LEAF (UPPER SIDE at MID-SEASON): new leaves from upper part of shoot are yellow (RHS 9B) with tones of green brown (RHS 151C), intermediate leaves from middle third of shoot are light green (RHS 144B) and inner leaves from lower part of shoot are dark green (greener than RHS 144A)
LEAF (LOWER SIDE at MID-SEASON): new leaves from upper part of shoot are yellow (RHS 6B) with green tones, intermediate leaves from middle third of shoot are brown green (RHS 147D), inner leaves from lower part of shoot are dark green (closest to RHS 135B), absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of veins

INFLORESCENCE: compound cyme type
FLOWER: rotate shape, inner and outer sides are light green (RHS 145C) changing to white (RHS NN155B) at maturity

FRUIT: cluster formation, drupe type, red skin when ripe

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNSRD4' was bred and developed by the breeder, Timothy D. Wood, an employee of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc., in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. It originated from a cross that was conducted in May 2006, between Sambucus racemosa variety 'Dropmore Fernleaf', as the female parent, and Sambucus racemosa variety 'Sutherland Gold' as the male parent. 'SMNSRD4' was selected in May 2011, for its compact growth habit, bright yellow foliage with high resistance to sunburn, and fine-cut foliage. Asexual reproduction of 'SMNSRD4' was first conducted by softwood cuttings in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNSRD4' was conducted as an outdoor irrigated container trial during the summer of 2016, at Bioflora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 8.8 litre containers on July 13, 2015. The containers were arranged outdoors in rows, with 1 metre spacing between plants. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or plant parts, of each variety on July 27, 2016. The flower observations were made on May 12, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNSRD4' with reference variety 'Sutherland Gold'

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf at mid-season (RHS)

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Elderberry: 'SMNSRD4' (left) with reference variety 'Sutherland Gold' (right)

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Elderberry: 'SMNSRD4' (left) with reference variety 'Sutherland Gold' (right)

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Elderberry: 'SMNSRD4' (left) with reference variety 'Sutherland Gold' (right)