SMNDRSF

Bush Honeysuckle

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Troja Black'

Summary: The stem of the plants of 'SMNDRSF' has very sparse to sparse pubescence while the stem of 'Troja Black' has medium to dense pubescence.

Description:

PLANT: flowering shrub, globose shape, bushy growth habit, dense branching, fast growth rate
STEM: light green transitioning to grey to light brown when mature, very sparse to sparse pubescence, angular in cross-section, medium density pubescence along ribs, smooth bark, absent or very weak glaucosity, absent or very few lenticels

PETIOLE: absent to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on lower side
LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, simple type, lanceolate to ovate shape, acuminate apex, weakly cordate base, crenate and serrate margin, no lobing, no variegation, medium to strong rugosity, weak to medium waviness along margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, sparse to medium density pubescence along midrib, red brown in spring, dark green at maturity
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium to dense pubescence along midrib, medium green at maturity, absent to very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on veins

INFLORESCENCE: cyme type
FLOWER: rotate or bilaterally symmetrical shape, absent or very weak fragrance
COROLLA: inner side yellow (RHS 2B), outer side yellow (RHS 3A) with yellow green (close to RHS 154D) tones
UPPER MIDDLE LOBE OF COROLLA: inner side yellow orange (RHS 14A)

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNDRSF' originated from a self-pollinated cross of Diervilla rivularis variety 'Troja Black'. The cross was made by the breeder, Timothy D. Wood, an employee of Spring Meadows Nursery, Inc., in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA in June 2009. From the resulting progeny, this variety was selected in May 2011 based on its dark foliage colour in both spring and autumn. 'SMNDRSF' was first propagated by softwood cuttings in June 2011 in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNDRSF' was conducted as an outdoor irrigated container trial during the summer of 2017 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 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 September 15, 2015. All plants were overwintered in an unheated double polyhouse. Most observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on July 11, 2017. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

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Bush Honeysuckle: 'SMNDRSF' (left) with reference variety 'Troja Black' (right)

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Bush Honeysuckle: 'SMNDRSF' (left) with reference variety 'Troja Black' (right)

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Bush Honeysuckle: 'SMNDRSF' (left) with reference variety 'Troja Black' (right)