Blackberry Ice

Heuchera

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Plum Pudding'

Summary: The plants of 'Blackberry Ice' have medium density foliage and are taller than those of 'Plum Pudding', which have dense foliage. The young leaf of 'Blackberry Ice' is brown purple while that of 'Plum Pudding' is darker brown purple. The leaf margin of 'Blackberry Ice' has medium indentations whereas that of 'Plum Pudding' has deep to very deep indentations. The leaf of 'Blackberry Ice' is primarily brown purple with a solid grey pattern between veins that fades to violet with age while that of 'Plum Pudding' is brown purple to dark brown with a blotched grey pattern between veins. The lower side of the leaf of 'Blackberry Ice' is brown purple while that of 'Plum Pudding' is lighter brown purple. The plants of 'Blackberry Ice' require little to no vernalisation to flower whereas those of 'Plum Pudding' require vernalisation to flower.

Description:

PLANT: medium density of foliage

PETIOLE: brown purple (RHS N186D), absent or very sparse pubescence
YOUNG LEAF BLADE: large area of brown purple (RHS N186C) between veins throughout, solid or nearly solid colour pattern
LEAF BLADE: main colour is brown purple (RHS N186C) between veins throughout, solid or nearly solid colour pattern, large area of main colour, secondary colour is grey (RHS N187B-C) fading to violet (RHS N77B, 77B-C) with age between veins throughout, solid or nearly solid colour pattern, medium to large area of secondary colour, tertiary colour is green grey (RHS N189A) along veins, solid or nearly solid colour pattern, small area of tertiary colour, roundish, acute to obtuse apex, medium degree of lobing, weak rugosity on upper side, medium glossiness on upper side, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower side, lower side is brown purple (RHS 187A)
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: many indentations, medium depth of indentations, medium undulation of margin

FLOWERING STEM: semi-upright, brown purple (RHS N186D), slightly to moderately elongated, medium density of flowers
FLOWER BUD: white (RHS 155C)
FLOWER: outwards attitude, short to medium length, narrow, outer side is white (RHS 155D)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Blackberry Ice' originated from a population of hybrid Heuchera seedlings that resulted from a hybrid cross conducted in July 2009 by the breeder, Kevin A. Hurd, at the Walters Gardens Inc. research greenhouse facility in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. The cross involved the two varieties 'Plum Royale' as the female parent and 'K8-04-01' ('Pinot Noir' x 'Mocha') as the male parent. The variety was selected in September 2011 based on its large dark purple leaves with heavy pewter frosting, except on the main veins.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Blackberry Ice' was conducted in an open ended poly house during the summer of 2014 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included 19 plants of the candidate variety and 17 plants of the reference variety. All plants were planted one plant per 16 cm diameter pot with 45 cm spacing between pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety the third week of July 2014. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Blackberry Ice' with reference variety 'Plum Pudding'

Plant height (cm)

Colour of young leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of leaf blade (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Heuchera: 'Blackberry Ice' (left) with reference variety 'Plum Pudding' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Heuchera: 'Blackberry Ice' (left) with reference variety 'Plum Pudding' (right)