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El Nino

Hosta

Denomination: 'El Nino'
Botanical Name: Hosta tardiana
Applicant/Holder: Warmerdam, P. Th.
Kapelleboslaan 16
2204 AK
Noordwijk
Netherlands
Breeder: P. Th. Warmerdam, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Agent in Canada: BioFlora Inc.
38723 Fingal Line
R.R. #1
St. Thomas, Ontario
N5P 3S5
Canada
Tel: 519-317-7511
Application Date: 2002-12-06
Application Number: 03-3782
Grant of Rights Date: 2007-01-03
Certificate Number: 2662
Grant of Rights Termination Date: 2025-01-03

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Halcyon'

Summary: 'El Nino' has a narrower leaf blade than 'Halcyon'. 'El Nino' has a variegated leaf blade while 'Halcyon' has no variegation.

Description:

'El Nino' has a mounded growth habit. The leaves are basal and ovate in shape with an acuminate apex and cordate base. The leaves of 'El Nino' are variegated. The main colour of the upper side of the leaf blade is grey green with blue tones. There is a moderate amount of secondary colour which is yellowish-white in colour and located at the margin.

The raceme type inflorescence is erect in attitude. The flower is campanulate in shape and has six fused tepals. The inner side of the tepal is white with markings of violet (RHS N82D). The outer side of the tepal is white to light blue violet (RHS 76C-D). The markings are located along the mid vein. The tepal has an acute apex.

Origin & Breeding History: 'El Nino' originated from a cross made in 1996 in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. The female parent was the variety 'Halcyon' and the male parent was an unknown seedling. The new variety was selected based on its moderate to high plant vigour, good branching characteristics and excellent plant shape and foliage colour. The new variety was first propagated asexually by plant divisions in March 1999 in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: 'El Nino' was tested during the summers of 2004 and 2005, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into six inch pots in April, 2004. Plants were field transplanted in September 2004. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on August 11, 2005. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 RHS colour chart.


Comparison tables for 'El Nino' with reference variety 'Halcyon'

Leaf blade width (cm)

  'El Nino' 'Halcyon'
mean 7.4 9.1
std. deviation 0.84 0.97

Secondary colour on leaf blade (RHS)

  'El Nino' 'Halcyon'
upper side 155B N/A

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El Nino
Hosta: Variety 'El Nino'

Click on image for larger view
El Nino
Hosta: 'Halcyon' (reference variety)

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