Candy Crush

Hibiscus

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Airbrush Effect'

Summary: The plants of 'Candy Crush' are taller than those of 'Airbrush Effect'. The flowers and petals of 'Candy Crush' are smaller than those of 'Airbrush Effect'. The eye zone on the inner side of the petals of 'Candy Crush' is dark brown purple whereas that of 'Airbrush Effect' is dark purple red. The inner side of the petals of 'Candy Crush' have no secondary colour present whereas those of 'Airbrush Effect' have light blue pink near the base. The petals of 'Candy Crush' have very weak to weak undulation whereas those of 'Airbrush Effect' have a medium degree of undulation.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright to spreading, medium branching density
CURRENT YEAR BRANCH: greenish with weak purplish colour

LEAF BLADE: slightly elongated ratio of length to width, rounded base, light to medium green, medium to deep lobing, absent or weak undulation, few to medium number of margin incisions, no variegation

FLOWER: single type, strongly ascending outermost petals, strongly overlapping outermost petals
PETAL: slightly elongated shape, dark blue pink to medium blue pink (between RHS 63B and 63C), absent or weak incisions, very weak to weak undulation
PETAL EYE ZONE: small relative to size of petal, absent or very short extensions, dark brown purple (RHS N186C)
STAMINAL COLUMN: medium length

Origin & Breeding History: 'Candy Crush' originated from a hybridization between the female proprietary parent designated 12-312-11 and the male proprietary parent designated 12-165-2 conducted in Zeeland, Michigan, USA on August 17, 2015. The new variety 'Candy Crush' was selected in the spring of 2017 based on branching characteristics, growth habit, disease resistance, flower colour and strength of petals. Asexual reproduction by cuttings was initiated in 2017.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Candy Crush' was conducted in September 2023 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included 10 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. The plants were grown in 23 cm round pots, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Candy Crush' with reference variety 'Airbrush Effect'

Plant height (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Petal length (cm)

Petal width (cm)

Colour of inner side of petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Hibiscus: 'Candy Crush' (left) with reference variety 'Airbrush Effect' (right)