N5

Ninebark

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Burgundy Candles'

Summary: The stem of 'N5' is thin to medium thickness whereas the stem of 'Burgundy Candles' is thick. The leaf blades of 'N5' are smaller than those of 'Burgundy Candles'. The leaf blades of 'N5' have weak rugosity whereas those of 'Burgundy Candles' have a medium degree of rugosity. The longest new stem for 'N5' is shorter than that of 'Burgundy Candles'.

Description:

PLANT: shrub type, obovoid and mounding shape, upright to bushy growth habit, medium branching density
CURRENT YEAR'S STEM: red brown, thin to medium thickness, absent or very sparse pubescence, round in cross-section, smooth bark texture, absent or very weak glaucosity, absent or very few lenticels

LEAF: simple type, alternate arrangement along stem
LEAF BLADE: ovate, acute apex, cordate to truncate base, dentate and serrate margin, lobed, weak rugosity, medium undulation of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): very sparse pubescence, dark brown (darker than RHS 200A) mid-season, no variegation
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium brown green (closest to RHS 147B) to dark brown green (RHS 148A) mid-season, anthocyanin colouration on veins ranging from absent or very weak to weak
PETIOLE: present, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration

Origin & Breeding History: 'N5' originated from an open pollinated cross conducted by the breeder in the summer of 2015, in Hazerswoude, Netherlands. The cross occurred between the female parent variety 'Diabolo' and an unknown male parent. The new variety was selected as a simple plant from the resultant progeny of the cross in July 2007 based on growth habit, summer foliage colour and resistance to powdery mildew. Asexual reproduction of 'N5' was first conducted by softwood cuttings in June 2008 in Hazerswoude, Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'N5' was conducted in an outdoor container trial at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario during the summer of 2021. The trial included 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into containers in the summer of 2020. The trial was arranged outdoors in rows with 1 meter spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on June 8, 2021. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'N5' with reference variety 'Burgundy Candles'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Length of longest new stem (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Ninebark: 'N5' (left) with reference variety 'Burgundy Candles' (right)