Snowball

Eupatorium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum'

Summary: The plants of 'Snowball' are narrower with a narrow upright growth habit while the plants of Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum' have a bushy rounded growth habit. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the stem and the peduncle of 'Snowball' is absent or very weak whereas the anthocyanin colouration of the stem and the peduncle of Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum' is medium to strong and variable. 'Snowball' has a smaller leaf blade and shorter petiole than Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum'. The leaf blade margin of 'Snowball' has smaller serrations with shallower sinuses than the leaf blade margin of Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum'. The colour of the floret bud is yellowish to greenish white for 'Snowball' while the floret bud of Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum' is blue pink. The colour of the outer side of the tube of the floret is yellowish to greenish white for 'Snowball' while the outer side of the tube of Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum' is blue pink to light blue violet.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated perennial, narrow upright growth habit, sparse branching
STEM: light green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence, medium thickness, smooth

LEAF: whorled arrangement, simple type
LEAF BLADE: ranging from elliptic to ovate, acute apex, attenuate base, serrate margin, no variegation
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, absent or very weak glaucosity, medium to dark green
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): sparse pubescence, light to medium green
PETIOLE: present

FLOWERING: one per growing cycle, mid to late season, medium to long length of time
PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: corymb type, positioned in both terminal and axillary locations, erect attitude
FLORET BUD: yellowish to greenish white (RHS 155B/C)
FLORET: yellowish to greenish white (RHS 155B/C) on outer side of tube when fully open

Origin & Breeding History: 'Snowball' originated from an open pollination of Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum' which took place during the summer of 2005 in Hummelo, Netherlands. The selection of 'Snowball' from seedlings obtained from this cross took place in 2006 and was based on its plant growth habit and flower colour.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Snowball' was conducted in an open-ended polyhouse during the summer of 2014 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included 18 plants of the candidate variety and 10 plants of the reference variety. All plants were grown in 20 cm diameter pots spaced 45 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Snowball' with reference variety Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum'

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Colour of floret bud (RHS)

Colour of floret when fully open (RHS)

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Eupatorium: 'Snowball' (left) with Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum' (right)

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Eupatorium: 'Snowball' (left) with Eupatorium maculatum 'Atropurpureum' (right)