Sunphloburu

Phlox

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Sunphlochebu' (Astoria Cherry Blossom) and 'Sunphlobuho' (Astoria Lavender)

Summary: 'Sunphloburu' has dense pubescence on the upper side of the leaf blade while it is medium to dense for 'Sunphlochebu' and very sparse for 'Sunphlobuho'. The floret shape for 'Sunphloburu' is round while it is star shape for 'Sunphlobuho'. The overall colour for 'Sunphloburu' is light blue violet with heavy violet/violet blue streaks while 'Sunphlochebu' is white with light blue pink streaks and 'Sunphlobuho' is lighter blue violet with light violet/violet blue streaks.

Description:

PLANT: annual, upright- bushy

LEAF: lanceolate, glandular stickiness, dense pubescence on upper side, medium pubescence on lower side, medium to dark green

CYME: dome shape, compound
FLORET: round, tricolour, purple colour group
PETAL: cuspidate shape apex, eye colour pattern, light blue violet overlaid with heavy streaks of violet and blue violet on the newly opened apical zone on upper side, light blue violet to white overlaid with medium streaks of violet aging to white overlaid with light streaks of light blue violet on the fully opened apical zone on upper side, dark violet with purple around the star with a splash of violet radiating from the star on the basal zone on upper side, light blue violet with violet at margin edge on the apical zone on lower side, light blue violet on basal zone on lower side
PETAL MARGIN: moderately overlapping, weak to medium fringe

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sunphloburu' originates from crossing the breeding line '2Ph-45a' as the female parent and the breeding line '2Ph-45b' as the pollen parent. This cross was conducted at Higashiomi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, in June 2002. From December 2002, the seedlings were sown and grown in pots on trial in a greenhouse. In May 2003, one seedling was selected in view of shape and flower colour. The seedling was propagated by cuttings and trialed to examine the botanical characteristics of that plant at the Omi R&D Center of Suntory Flowers Ltd.

Tests & Trials: PBR trials were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2007 in St. Thomas, Ontario. Trials included 15 plants of the candidate and reference variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 15 cm pots on May 1, 2007. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 27, 2007. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Sunphloburu' with reference varieties 'Sunphlochebu' and 'Sunphlobuho'

Petal colour of apical zone-upper side (RHS)

Petal colour of markings-upper side (RHS)

Petal colour of apical zone-lower side (RHS)

Petal colour of basal zone-lower side (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Phlox: 'Sunphloburu' (left) with reference varieties 'Sunphlochebu' (centre) and 'Sunphlobuho' (right)