Straesun

Euryops

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sonnenschein'

Summary: 'Straesun' has shorter plants with sparser foliage than 'Sonnenschein'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, few to medium number of branches, sparse foliage

STEM: strong to very strong red purple anthocyanin colouration located on the internodes, very sparse tomentose pubescence located only in leaf axils of major nodes

LEAF BLADE: cuspidate apex, attenuate base, incurving of lobes present, dark green, no variegation

PEDUNCLE: thin, weak to moderate anthocyanin colouration
CALYX: no variegation
RAY FLORET: reflexing along longitudinal axis, intense yellow on upper side, yellow on lower side
FLORET DISC: present, yellow orange after anther dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Straesun' was developed by the breeder, Alfons Merkens in Straelen, Germany. It was discovered and developed by the breeder as a mutation of the Euryops variety 'Sonnenschein' in May of 2001 in Straelen, Germany. It was selected based on its compact growth and flower size. 'Straesun' was assessed for rooting and cutting production and growth characteristics in greenhouse trials conducted during the springs of 2002 and 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany. Outdoor trials were also conducted in Stuttgart, Germany during the summers of 2002 and 2003 to assess heat tolerance and resistance to weather conditions.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'Straesun' was conducted in a poly-house during the spring of 2006 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 15 cm pots on April 26, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 16-17, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison table for 'Straesun' with reference variety 'Sonnenschein'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Euryops: 'Straesun' (left) with reference variety 'Sonnenschein' (right)