Pardon My Pink

Monarda

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Petite Delight'

Summary: The plants of 'Pardon My Pink' are shorter than those of 'Petite Delight'. The leaf blade of 'Pardon My Pink' is longer than the leaf blade of 'Petite Delight'. The colour of the flower of 'Pardon My Pink' is purple red and fades to a lighter purple red as it ages, while the flower of 'Petite Delight' is purple and fades to violet as it ages.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated perennial, narrow upright growth habit, sparse branching
STEM: medium green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent to very weak glaucosity, sparse pubescence, medium thickness, square edged shape

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, simple type
LEAF BLADE: ovate, acute apex, truncate base, serrate margin, no variegation
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): sparse pubescence, absent or very weak glaucosity, dark green
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): sparse pubescence, medium green
PETIOLE: present

FLOWERING: once per growing cycle, begins mid-season to late, lasts for a medium length of time
PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: head type, positioned at both terminal and axillary locations, erect attitude
FLOWER: bilabiate shape, many per inflorescence, medium length, narrow, high length to width ratio, reflexing along longitudinal axis with weak to medium curvature, outer and inner sides purple red (RHS N57B/C) fading a lighter intense purple red (RHS N57D) with age

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pardon My Pink' was the result of a hybridization between the Monarda didyma varieties 'ACrade' as the female parent and 'AChall' as the male parent. This cross was conducted during the summer of 2006 at Walters Garden Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. From the resulting progeny, 'Pardon My Pink' was selected for mildew resistance, compact floriferous form, and plant growth habit.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Pardon My Pink' was conducted outdoors under shade cloth during the summer of 2014 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial consisted of 19 plants each of the candidate and reference variety planted in pots spaced approximately 35 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. Colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Pardon My Pink' with reference variety 'Petite Delight'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Colour of flower (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Monarda: 'Pardon My Pink' (left) with reference variety 'Petite Delight' (right)