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Balobwablu

Lobelia

Denomination: 'Balobwablu'
Trade name: Waterfall Blue
Botanical Name: Lobelia erinus
Applicant/Holder: Ball Horticultural Company
622 Town Road
West Chicago, Illinois
60185
United States of America
Breeder: Ball Horticultural Company, West Chicago, United States of America
Agent in Canada: BioFlora Inc.
38723 Fingal Line
R.R. #1
St. Thomas, Ontario
N5P 3S5
Canada
Tel: 519-317-7511
Application Date: 2004-01-14
Application Number: 04-3975
Grant of Rights Date: 2006-08-11
Certificate Number: 2495
Date rights surrendered: 2012-09-27

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Lobetis' and 'Lobeto'

Summary: 'Balobwablu' has a semi-upright growth habit whereas 'Lobetis' has an upright-bushy growth habit and 'Lobeto' is spreading/trailing. 'Balobwablu' is shorter than both 'Lobetis' and 'Lobeto'. 'Balobwablu' is wider than 'Lobetis' and narrower than 'Lobeto'. 'Balobwablu' has small markings on the lower lobes of the flowers whereas there are no petal markings on 'Lobetis' and medium-sized markings on 'Lobeto'.

Description:

'Balobwablu' is a vegetatively propagated lobelia variety which has a semi-upright growth habit with a medium degree of branching. The stem is medium to thick, medium green in colour with medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration and no pubescence. The simple leaves are arranged alternately on the stems. The new leaf blades are linear-falcate in shape and age to obovate and spatulate. The leaf apex is acute and obtuse with a mucronate tip and the leaf base is attenuate. The margins of the new leaf blades are entire and develop to serrate as they age. The leaf blade is light green with no variegation or pubescence.

The sepals of 'Balobwablu' are lanceolate in shape and anthocyanin colouration is present. The inflorescence is a raceme type with flowers in both terminal and axillary locations. Anthocyanin colouration of the pedicel is medium. Flower colour is violet blue with small dark blue markings and a small white zone. The palate is small and the stigma is dark red-purple.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balobwablu' originated as a result of the open pollination of 'White Star' which took place in August 2001 at Arroyo Grande, California, USA. Initial selections were made in January 2002. Selection criteria included dark lavender-blue flowers, small foliage, heavy branching and mounded-trailing growth habit.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Balobwablu' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2005 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial consisted of 15 plants per variety grown from rooted cuttings, transplanted into 11 cm pots in week 19. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. All colour measurements were made using RHS Colour Chart 2001.


Comparison tables for 'Balobwablu' with reference varieties 'Lobetis' and 'Lobeto'

Plant height (cm)

  'Balobwablu' 'Lobetis' 'Lobeto'
mean 10.4 14.9 14.1
std. deviation 1.47 1.44 1.98

Plant width (cm)

  'Balobwablu' 'Lobetis' 'Lobeto'
mean 20.9 17.2 40.9
std. deviation 2.76 1.72 5.08

Sepal length (mm)

  'Balobwablu' 'Lobetis' 'Lobeto'
mean 9.4 9.9 8.4
std. deviation 1.14 1.43 0.89

Colour of upper lobes of corolla (RHS)

  'Balobwablu' 'Lobetis' 'Lobeto'
inner side 95B lighter than 99B 96B with 94A on main vein
outer side 96C with 90B-C on main vein 96C-D with 96B on main vein 96D with 94B on main vein

Colour of lower lobes of corolla (RHS)

  'Balobwablu' 'Lobetis' 'Lobeto'
inner side lighter than 95B lighter than 99B with 97A near white zone 96B with 97C-D near white zone
outer side 96C-D 96C-D 96C
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