Pheni Vio

Penstemon

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Cathedral Hot Rose' and 'Pheni Magna' (Phoenix Magenta)

Summary: The stems of 'Pheni Vio' have very short, dense pubescence while those of 'Pheni Magna' have absent to very sparse pubescence. The upper side of the leaves of 'Pheni Vio' are lighter green and duller than those of 'Cathedral Hot Rose'. The main colour on the inner side of the corolla is violet for 'Pheni Vio' while it is blue pink for 'Cathedral Hot Rose' and lighter purple for 'Pheni Magna'. 'Pheni Vio' has less conspicuous markings on the inner side of the corolla tube than 'Cathedral Hot Rose'. The lower side of the corolla is violet with darker violet streaks spreading outwards from the base while it is blue pink with purple red tones and white streaks spreading outward from the base for 'Cathedral Hot Rose' and purple to blue pink with white streaks spreading outward from the base for 'Pheni Magna'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit

STEM: very short and dense pubescence, at times moderate intensity of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, lanceolate, acuminate tip, dentate margins, medium green on upper side, weak glossiness on upper side, sessile

CALYX: dense pubescence, strong anthocyanin colouration on margins
SEPAL: elliptic, entire margin

INFLORESCENCE: thyrse type
FLOWER: located both in axillary and terminal positions, more than two per axil, trumpet shaped (2 upper lobes and 3 lower lobes)
UPPER COROLLA LOBES: main colour on inner side is violet, secondary colour on inner side is white and located in area of transition to corolla tube
LOWER COROLLA LOBES: main colour on inner side is violet, secondary colour on inner side is white and located in area of transition to corolla tube, main colour on outer side is violet with pink tones, secondary colour on outer side is white and distributed as streaks spreading outward from the base
MARKINGS ON INNER SIDE OF COROLLA: absent to very weakly conspicuous
COROLLA TUBE: white on inner side

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pheni Vio' was developed by the breeder, Jason Jandrew, an employee of Goldsmith Seeds in California, U.S.A. as part of a planned pedigree breeding program. It originated from a cross made on August 2, 2002 between the proprietary female parent line designated '103-3' with white flowers, and the proprietary male parent line designated '114-1' with violet flowers. 'Pheni Vio' was selected on May 3, 2003 based on its plant growth habit, flower colour and flower form.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial of 'Pheni Vio' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 at Bioflora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 15 cm pots on March 21, 2006 . Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 7, 2006. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Pheni Vio' with reference varieties 'Cathedral Hot Rose' and 'Pheni Magna'

Colour of upper lobes of corolla (RHS)

Colour of lower lobes of corolla (RHS)

Colour of inner side of corolla (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Penstemon: 'Pheni Vio' (left) with reference variety 'Cathedral Hot Rose' (centre) and and 'Pheni Magna' (right)