Empress Wu
| Denomination: | 'Empress Wu' |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name: | Hosta |
| Applicant/Holder: |
Skaggs, Brian 13620 West, 173 Avenue Lowell, Indiana 46356-4445 United States of America Skaggs, Virginia 13620 West 173rd Avenue Lowell, Indiana 46356 United States of America |
| Breeder: |
Brian Skaggs, Lowell, United States of America Virginia Skaggs, Lowell, United States of America |
| Agent in Canada: |
Variety Rights Management 475 County Road 18 R.R. #2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0 Canada Tel: 613-258-9015 |
| Application Date: | 2008-09-10 |
| Application Number: | 08-6434 |
| Grant of Rights Date: | 2011-12-05 |
| Certificate Number: | 4240 |
| Grant of Rights Termination Date: | 2029-12-05 |
Variety Description
Variety used for comparison: 'T Rex'
Summary: The plants of 'Empress Wu' are large to very large in size while the plants of 'T Rex' are medium to large. The leaf blade of 'Empress Wu' is longer and wider than the leaf blade of 'T Rex'. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'Empress Wu' has medium glaucosity while the upper surface of the leaf blade of 'T Rex' has weak glaucosity. The upper side of the leaf blade is bluish green for 'Empress Wu' while it is yellowish green for 'T Rex'. The corolla of 'Empress Wu' is pale violet in colour while the corolla of 'T Rex' is white. The peduncle of 'Empress Wu' is longer than the peduncle of 'T Rex'.
Description:
PLANT: shade tolerant, large to very large size
LEAF BLADE: large, weak curvature, straight in profile, cordate shape, acute apex, cordate base, absent to very weak undulation of margin, no variegation
LEAF BLADE - UPPER SURFACE: ribbed texture, veins shallow to medium in depth, medium glaucosity, absent or very weak glossiness, bluish-green
LEAF BLADE - LOWER SURFACE: weak glaucosity
FLOWER: mid-season flowering, very weak fragrance
COROLLA: horizontal attitude, funnelform, pale violet, no striations, medium thick peduncle.
Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Empress Wu' originated from a cross between the variety 'Big John' as the female and male parent. The cross was made at Lowell, Indiana, USA in 1999. After further evaluation in 2000, the variety was selected for its size and rapid growth.
Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted during the summer of 2010 in Oxford Station, Ontario. Ten plants of each variety were grown in 16.5 cm pots in a polyhouse. Plants were spaced approximately 40 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken on 10 plants of each variety. Colours were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.
Comparison tables for 'Empress Wu' with reference variety 'T Rex'
Leaf blade length (cm)
| 'Empress Wu' | 'T Rex' | |
|---|---|---|
| mean | 32.20 | 27.60 |
| std. deviation | 3.01 | 1.74 |
Leaf blade width (cm)
| 'Empress Wu' | 'T Rex' | |
|---|---|---|
| mean | 12.5 | 10.2 |
| std. deviation | 2.24 | 1.15 |
Peduncle length (cm)
| 'Empress Wu' | 'T Rex' | |
|---|---|---|
| mean | 72.2 | 53.6 |
| std. deviation | 4.71 | 2.39 |
Click on image for larger view
Hosta: 'Empress Wu' (left) with reference variety 'T Rex' (right)
Click on image for larger view
Hosta: 'Empress Wu' (left) with reference variety 'T Rex' (right)
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