Pardon My Purple

Monarda

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Grand Parade'

Summary: The plants of 'Pardon My Purple' are shorter than those of 'Grand Parade'. The leaf blade of 'Pardon My Purple' is smaller than the leaf blade of 'Grand Parade'. The colour of the flower of 'Pardon My Purple' is purple while the flower of 'Grand Parade' is violet. As it ages, the inner side of the flower of 'Pardon My Purple' fades to blue purple whereas the flower of 'Grand Parade' fades to light violet.

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 early to mid-season, 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 side is purple (RHS 71B) and inner side is purple (RHS 71B) fading to blue purple (RHS 72B/C) with age.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pardon My Purple' was the result of a hybridization between the varieties 'Acrade' (PP19580) trade name 'Grand Parade' as the female parent and 'Achall' (PP19580) trade name 'Grand Marshall' as the male parent. This cross was conducted during the summer of 2006 at Walters Garden Inc, Zeeland, Michigan USA. From the resulting progeny grown 'Pardon My Purple' was selected for its height, mildew resistance and attractive flower colour.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Pardon My Purple' was conducted outdoors under shade cloth during the summer of 2014 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial consisted of 20 plants of candidate variety and 17 plants of the reference variety grown in pots spaced approximately 35 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Pardon My Purple' with reference variety 'Grand Parade'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of flower (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Monarda: 'Pardon My Purple' (left) with reference variety 'Grand Parade' (right)