Penharwi

Penstemon

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Pheni Ablos' (Phoenix Appleblossom)

Summary: 'Penharwi' differs from the reference variety, 'Pheni Ablos' mainly in leaf length and secondary colour of the corolla lobe margins. The leaves of 'Penharwi' are longer than those of 'Pheni Ablos'. The corolla lobe margins of 'Penharwi' are purple red to light blue pink whereas they are blue pink on 'Pheni Ablos'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit

STEM: absent to very sparse pubescence, absent to very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, lanceolate, narrow acute tip, entire to weakly dentate margins, medium green on upper side, weak to medium glossiness on upper side, petiole absent

CALYX: sparse to medium pubescence, very weak anthocyanin colouration
SEPAL: ovate, entire margin

INFLORESCENCE: raceme type
FLOWER: located both in axillary and terminal positions, three per axil, bilabiate (upper lip with two upper petal lobes and lower lip with three lower petal lobes)
COROLLA LOBES: main colour on inner side is white with purple red to light blue pink secondary colour on inner side located at margin edges
COROLLA TUBE: white, main colour on outer side is white with no secondary colour present
MARKINGS ON INNER SIDE OF COROLLA: absent

Origin & Breeding History: 'Penharwi' was developed through inbred breeding of the variety 'Gigant'. One cycle of half-sib selection between June 2003 through to October 2003 was conducted in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands. Seeds from the selection were sown in January 2004 with a single seedling selected in July 2004. Selection criteria included compact growth habit, branching and time of flowering. Asexual reproduction by cutting was first conducted in August 2004 in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial of 'Penharwi' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring-summer of 2008 at Bioflora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 20 cm pots on May 15, 2008 . Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 18, 2008. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Penharwi' with reference variety 'Pheni Ablos'

Leaf length (cm)

Colour of upper lobes of corolla (RHS)

Colour of lower lobes of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Penstemon: 'Penharwi' (left) with reference variety 'Pheni Ablos' (right)