Alban

Euonymus

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Emerald Gaiety'

Summary: The leaf of 'Alban' is longer and wider than the leaf of 'Emerald Gaiety'. The newly opened leaf of 'Alban' has light yellow secondary colour on the upper side while the leaf of 'Emerald Gaiety' has white and very light yellow secondary colour on the upper side. The main colour on the upper side of the mature leaf of 'Alban' is a darker green than the main colour on the upper side of the mature leaf of 'Emerald Gaiety'. The secondary colour on the leaf of 'Alban' is located in a thin to medium border on the margin while the secondary colour on the leaf of 'Emerald Gaiety' is in a very thin to thin border on the margin.

Description:

PLANT: deciduous, upright to spreading growth habit, mounded shape, medium to many branches, medium foliage density
STEM: medium thickness, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, smooth shape, light green and light brown, no twisting present

LEAF: opposite arrangement, simple, ovate, acute apex, obtuse base, dentate margin, absent or very weak margin undulation, smooth to slight leathery texture, weak glossiness, absent or very weak fragrance, upper side on newly opened leaf dark green (RHS 143A-B) with light yellow (RHS 4D) secondary colour, upper side of mature leaf dark green (RHS N137C) with segments of brown green (RHS N138B-C) and white (RHS 155B) secondary colour, secondary colour located at leaf margin in a thin to medium sized border, lower side of leaf brown green (RHS 191B)
PETIOLE: present.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Alban' originated as a naturally occurring branch mutation of the Euonymus fortuneii variety 'Emerald Gaiety'. The variety was discovered in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA in 2001. 'Alban' was selected for its leaf size, leaf variegation colour, leaf colour stability and compact plant habit. Asexual reproduction was first conducted by soft wood cuttings in September 2001 in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Alban' were conducted in an outdoor container trial during the summer of 2012 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate variety and 10 plants of the reference variety. All plants were grown from 5.7 cm liners and planted into 8.8 litre containers on July 8, 2011. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 18, 2012. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Alban' with reference variety 'Emerald Gaiety'

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf (RHS)

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Euonymus: 'Alban' (left) with reference variety 'Emerald Gaiety' (right)

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Euonymus: 'Alban' (left) with reference variety 'Emerald Gaiety' (right)