Black Pearl

Heuchera

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Ruffles `n Truffles'

Summary: The upper side of the young leaf blade of 'Black Pearl' is brown purple whereas it is lighter brown purple for 'Ruffles `n Truffles'. 'Black Pearl' has a longer petiole than that of 'Ruffles `n Truffles'. The undulation of the leaf blade margin is weak to medium for 'Black Pearl' whereas it is medium to strong for 'Ruffles `n Truffles'. The length to width ratio of the flowering part of the flowering stem is strongly elongated for 'Black Pearl' whereas the length to width ratio is moderately elongated for 'Ruffles `n Truffles'. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'Black Pearl' is black whereas the leaf blade of 'Ruffles `n Truffles' is brown purple to dark purple red. The lower side of the leaf blade of 'Black Pearl' is brown purple to dark purple red whereas the lower side of the leaf blade of 'Ruffles `n Truffles' is dark purple red. The flower bud of 'Black Pearl' is purple whereas the flower bud of 'Ruffles `n Truffles' is purple red.

Description:

YOUNG LEAF BLADE: upper side is brown purple (RHS N186C) distributed as a solid or near solid pattern over total surface
PETIOLE: brown purple (RHS 187A)
LEAF BLADE: roundish length to width ratio, rounded apex, medium to deep lobing, medium number of indentations of margin, medium depth of indentation of margins, weak to medium undulation of margin, weak rugosity
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): weak degree of glossiness, absent or very sparse pubescence, solid or nearly solid black (RHS N187A) throughout
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): sparse pubescence, between brown purple (RHS N186D) and dark purple red (RHS 187B)

FLOWERING STEM: upright to semi-upright attitude, brown purple (RHS 187A), length to width ratio of flowering part is strongly elongated, medium density of flowers
FLOWER BUD: purple (RHS 67A)
FLOWER: downwards attitude, short, narrow, white (RHS N155C) to blue pink (RHS 186D) on outer surface

Origin & Breeding History: 'Black Pearl' originated from a line cross conducted on April 11, 2013, in Zeeland, Michigan, between the proprietary hybrid designated as '12-317-04', as the female parent, and the proprietary hybrid designated '11-29-01', as the male parent. The cross was monitored by Hans Hansen. 'Black Pearl' was initially selected for further evaluation in the spring of 2013. Selections were initially made based on flower colour and plant growth habit. Propagation was initially conducted by stem cuttings in 2014.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Black Pearl' was conducted as an outdoor container trial during the summer of 2017 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial consisted of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. The plants were grown in 16 cm pots with 40 cm spacing between pots under a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of 10 plants of each variety in late July of 2017. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Black Pearl' with reference variety 'Ruffles `n Truffles'

Colour of young leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of mature leaf blade (RHS)

Petiole length (cm)

Length of flowering part of flowering stem (cm)

Colour of flower bud

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Heuchera: 'Black Pearl' (left) with reference variety 'Ruffles 'n Truffles' (right)

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Heuchera: 'Black Pearl' (left) with reference variety 'Ruffles 'n Truffles' (right)