El Madrigal

Bush Honeysuckle

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'SMNSDRSF' (Kodiak Black)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'El Madrigal' is longer and narrower than that of 'SMNSDRSF'. At mid-season, the upper side of the leaf blade of 'El Madrigal' is brown green with upper leaves having medium brown tones while that of 'SMNSDRSF' is brown green. The veins on the lower side of the leaf blade of 'El Madrigal' have medium intensity anthocyanin colouration while the veins of 'SMNSDRSF' have a weak intensity. The petiole of the leaf blade of 'El Madrigal' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the petiole of 'SMNSDRSF' has a medium intensity. In autumn, the upper side of the leaf blade of 'El Madrigal' is dark brown while that of 'SMNSDRSF' is dark brown with green colouration present.

Description:

PLANT: flowering shrub, globose shape, bushy growth habit, medium to dense branching, medium growth rate, hardiness zone USDA 5
STEM: brown, thick, very sparse pubescence, angular in cross-section, smooth bark, medium glaucosity, absent or very few lenticels

PETIOLE: short, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration
LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, simple type, lanceolate, acuminate apex, rounded and cordate base, dentate margin, no lobing, no variegation, weak rugosity, weak to medium waviness along margin
LEAF (UPPER SIDE): sparse pubescence, medium brown (RHS 175A) and brown purple (RHS 178A) when newly opened in spring, dark green to light green (RHS 144A-B) when fully expanded in spring, brown green (closest to RHS 147A) with upper leaves having medium brown (closest to RHS 175A) tones at mid-season, dark brown (redder than RHS 200B) in autumn
LEAF (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium green at mid-season, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration on veins

FLOWER: inflorescence, panicle or cyme type
COROLLA: rotate or bilaterally symmetrical shape, inner side yellow (RHS 3A-C), outer side yellow green (RHS 1B-C), absent or very weak fragrance

FRUIT: simple formation
SEED: medium sized, red-brown when ripe

Origin & Breeding History: 'El Madrigal' originated from a naturally occurring branch mutation of a Diervilla splendens plant that was discovered and developed by the breeder, Thiemo Haltermann, owner of Spilkers Jungpflanzen OHG in Barmstedt, Germany. The discovery was made by the breeder in June 2006 in Barmstedt, Germany. This variety was selected for propagation in July 2006 based on its dark greenish brown foliage colour and yellow flower colour. 'El Madrigal' was first propagated by softwood cuttings in July 2006 in Barmstedt, Germany.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'El Madrigal' was conducted in an outdoor irrigated container trial during the summer of 2016 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from 10 cm rooted cuttings and transplanted into 11.4 litre containers. The candidate variety was transplanted on June 23, 2015 while the reference variety was transplanted on July 15, 2015. The trial was arranged outdoors in rows with 1 meter spacing between shrubs. Most observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on June 15, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'El Madrigal' with reference variety 'SMNSDRSF'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of leaf blade at mid-season (RHS)

Colour of leaf blade in autumn (RHS)

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Bush Honeysuckle: 'El Madrigal' (left) with reference variety 'SMNSDRSF' (right)

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Bush Honeysuckle: 'El Madrigal' (left) with reference variety 'SMNSDRSF' (right)

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Bush Honeysuckle: 'El Madrigal' (left) with reference variety 'SMNSDRSF' (right)