Leapfrog

Heucherella

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Thunderbird'

Summary: The height of the foliage of 'Leapfrog' is taller than that of 'Thunderbird'. The leaf blade of 'Leapfrog' is longer than that of 'Thunderbird'. The mature leaf blade of 'Leapfrog' has a roundish to slightly elongated length to width ratio with an obtuse to rounded apex while the mature leaf blade of 'Thunderbird' has a slightly elongated length to width ratio with an acute apex. The mature leaf blade of 'Leapfrog' has shallow to medium depth lobing with short to medium length terminal lobes in relation to the leaf length while that of 'Thunderbird' has deep lobing and medium to long terminal lobes in relation to the leaf length. Colour one, the light green colour, located between the veins and along the margin on the upper side of the mature leaf blade of 'Leapfrog' is distributed over a small to medium sized area while colour one, the light green colour, on the upper side of the mature leaf blade of 'Thunderbird' is distributed over a medium to large area. Colour two, the brown purple colour, along the veins on the upper side of the mature leaf blade of 'Leapfrog' is distributed over a medium to large area while colour two, the purple colour, is distributed over a small to medium sized area for 'Thunderbird'. The flowering stem of 'Leapfrog' is green brown while it is brown purple for 'Thunderbird'. The outer side of the flower bud and the flower of 'Leapfrog' are white while they are light blue pink for 'Thunderbird'. The inner side of the petal of 'Leapfrog' is white while it is pale pink for 'Thunderbird'.

Description:

PLANT: medium density foliage

PETIOLE: absent or very sparse pubescence, brown purple (RHS 184C)
YOUNG LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): colour 1 is light green (RHS N144A) distributed between veins and along margin as a solid or nearly solid colour over a medium to large area, colour 2 is dark purple red (RHS 59A) distributed along veins as a flush and dots over a medium sized area
MATURE LEAF BLADE: roundish to very slightly elongated length to width ratio, obtuse to rounded apex, shallow to medium depth lobing, short to medium length terminal lobes relative to total length, few and shallow indentations of margin, weak undulation of margin
MATURE LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): weak rugosity, absent or very weak glossiness, sparse pubescence, colour 1 is light green (RHS N144B) fading to light yellow brown (RHS 160B-C) distributed between veins and along margin as a solid or nearly solid colour over a small to medium sized area, colour 2 is brown purple (RHS 183A) distributed along veins as a flush and dots over a medium to large area
MATURE LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): sparse pubescence, light green (RHS N144D)

FLOWERING STEM: upright attitude, green brown (RHS 153C), strongly elongated length to width ratio of part with flowers, medium density of flowers
FLOWER BUD: white (RHS 155D)
FLOWER: outwards attitude, short, narrow, outer side is white (RHS N155D)
PETAL: inner side is white

Origin & Breeding History: 'Leapfrog' originated from a line cross conducted by the breeder at Walter Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA on July 12, 2011. The cross was made between the female parent Heuchera designated 'K9-38' and a proprietary hybrid clone male parent Tiarella designated 'K10-20'. From the resulting progeny, seedlings were initially selected for further evaluation in the spring of 2012. 'Leapfrog' was selected for its compact plant growth habit, light yellow-green foliage with large dark patterns and floriferous panicles. 'Leapfrog' is asexually propagated through tissue culture.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Leapfrog' was conducted outdoors in 2015 at Variety Rights Managament in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included a total of 18 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. The plants were grown in 16 cm pots with 45 cm spacing between pots. 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 'Leapfrog' with reference variety 'Thunderbird'

Foliage height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Colour two of mature leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of flowering stem (RHS)

Colour of flower (RHS)

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Heucherella: 'Leapfrog' (right) with reference variety 'Thunderbird' (left)

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Heucherella: 'Leapfrog' (right) with reference variety 'Thunderbird' (left)