Cutting Edge

Foam Flower

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sugar & Spice'

Summary: The leaf blade for 'Cutting Edge' is longer and wider than that of 'Sugar & Spice'. The leaf blade for 'Cutting Edge' has very many indentations of margin while that of 'Sugar & Spice' has a medium number of indentations of margin. The flowering stem for 'Cutting Edge' is shorter than that of 'Sugar & Spice'. The flowering stem for 'Cutting Edge' is brown green while that of 'Sugar & Spice' is green brown. The flower bud for 'Cutting Edge' is white while it is brown purple to blue pink for 'Sugar & Spice'.

Description:

PLANT: medium to dense foliage

PETIOLE: medium pubescence, brown green (RHS 148D)
YOUNG LEAF BLADE: medium to large area of solid to nearly solid pattern of dark green (RHS 144A), small area of solid to nearly solid or dotted pattern of dark purple red (RHS 187B/C) along veins
LEAF BLADE: slightly elongated length to width ratio, acute apex, deep lobing, very many deep indentations of margin, absent or very weak to weak undulation of margin, weak degree of rugosity, absent or very weak glossiness, sparse pubescence on upper and lower side
LEAF BLADE COLOUR (UPPER SIDE): large area of solid or nearly solid dark to light green (RHS 144A/B) throughout, small area of solid or nearly solid and dotted pattern of black or brown purple (RHS N186B/C) along veins
LEAF BLADE COLOUR (LOWER SIDE): brown green (RHS 147C)

FLOWERING STEM: upright attitude, brown green (RHS 148A/B), strongly elongated length to width ratio, medium density of flowers
FLOWER BUD: white (RHS N155B)
FLOWER: semi-upwards attitude, short, narrow, white (RHS NN155D) outer surface

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cutting Edge' originated as a result of a cross made between a selection of Tiarella designated 'Timbuktu', as both the female and male parent. The cross occurred in 2013, in Zeeland Michigan, USA. The method of breeding was recurrent selection with initial plant selections made in 2014, based on flower colour and plant habit. The variety was initially propagated by tissue culture in 2015.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Cutting Edge' was conducted in a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric during the summer of 2019 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The plants were grown in 16 cm round pots, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Cutting Edge' with reference variety 'Sugar & Spice'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Flowering stem length (cm)

Flowering stem colour (RHS)

Flower bud colour (RHS)

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Foam Flower: 'Cutting Edge' (left) with reference variety 'Sugar and Spice' (right)

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Foam Flower: 'Cutting Edge' (left) with reference variety 'Sugar and Spice' (right)