Nemimblu

Nemesia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Nemhabar' (Impressario Blue) and 'Hubbird' (Blue Bird)

Summary: 'Nemimblu' is shorter than the reference varieties. The leaves of 'Nemimblu' are shorter and more narrow than 'Nemhabar' and longer and wider than 'Hubbird'. 'Nemimblu' has blue violet flowers with darker veins while 'Nemhabar' has blue violet flowers fading to violet. The colour of the palate of 'Nemimblu' is light yellow with white while it is yellow for 'Nemhabar' and yellow green to light yellow for 'Hubbird'.

Description:

PLANT: very erect to semi erect growth habit, sparse density, few branches
STEM: thick to very thick

LEAF BLADE: ovate, medium to dark green, serrate margin
PETIOLE: very small or sessile

CALYX: absent or very sparse pubescence
COROLLA: uniform colour distribution, blue violet weakly fading with age with darker veins on the upper lobes of the upper side, light blue violet on the lower side
COROLLA SPUR: slightly curved, slightly shorter than lower lobe
CENTRAL LOBES OF UPPER LIP OF COROLLA: medium to strong margin undulation (lobes curl inward), medium reflexing
LATERAL LOBES OF UPPER LIP OF COROLLA: strong reflexing
LOWER LIP OF COROLLA: blue violet weakly fading with age, medium margin undulation, weak to medium reflexing
PALATE: light yellow with white, medium size

Origin & Breeding History: 'Nemimblu' originated from a self-pollination of the Nemesia frutescens plant identified as C0072-1 occurring in August 2000 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The new Nemesia variety was selected from the resultant progeny as a single plant in May 2001 based on criteria for earliness, plant form, and sterility. Asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings was first conducted in July 2001 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The PBR trials were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2007 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trials included a total of 15 plants of the candidate variety and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 10.5 cm pots on March 20, 2007. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on May 16, 2007. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Nemimblu' with reference varieties 'Nemhabar' and 'Hubbird'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf length (mm)

Leaf width (mm)

Corolla width (mm)

Colour of upper side of upper lobes of corolla (RHS)

Colour of upper side of lower lip of corolla (RHS)

Colour of lower side of corolla (RHS)

Palate colour (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Nemesia: 'Nemimblu' (left) with reference varieties 'Nemhabar' (centre) and 'Hubbird' (right)