Opening Act White

Phlox

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Minnie Pearl' and 'Opening Act Blush'

Summary: The plants of 'Opening Act White' are larger than those of 'Opening Act Blush'. The stem of 'Opening Act White' is medium green while it is dark green for 'Minnie Pearl'. The leaf blade of 'Opening Act White' is narrower than that of 'Opening Act Blush'. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'Opening Act White' is yellow green while the leaf blade of 'Minnie Pearl' is dark green. The plants of 'Opening Act White' flower later than those of 'Minnie Pearl'. The inflorescence of 'Opening Act White' is larger than that of 'Opening Act Blush'. The corolla of 'Opening Act White' is smaller in diameter than that of 'Minnie Pearl'. The inner side of the corolla lobe of 'Opening Act White' is white while the inner side of the corolla lobe of 'Opening Act Blush' is violet. The corolla tube of the flower of 'Opening Act White' is short while that of 'Minnie Pearl' is of medium length. The corolla tube of the flower of 'Opening Act White' is light blue violet while that of 'Opening Act Blush' is violet.

Description:

STEM: medium thickness at middle third, medium green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium length internode at middle third

LEAF: moderately elongated length to width ratio, broadest part towards base, flat in cross-section, acuminate to acute apex, no variegation, no anthocyanin colouration on upper side, absent or weak undulation of margin, upper side is yellow green

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: early to mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: many flowers
PEDICEL: short to medium length, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
PERIANTH: present
CALYX: short, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA LOBE: medium length, medium width, obovate
COROLLA LOBE (INNER SIDE): white (RHS NN155C), no secondary colour, no eye
COROLLA TUBE: short, small diameter directly below lobes, light blue violet (RHS 76A-B)
ANTHER: light yellow
STYLE: light green and purple red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Opening Act White' was bred and developed by the breeder, Hans Hansen, in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. It originated from a line cross conducted in the summer of 2011 between the female parent variety 'Minnie Pearl' and male parent variety 'Coral'. The variety 'Opening Act White' was selected in the spring of 2012 based on its hardy, vigorous, short and compact growth habit, numerous highly branched stems, bright green powdery mildew resistant foliage, early season flowering and fragrant, white long blooming flowers with excellent flower coverage. 'Opening Act White' was first asexually reproduced by stem cuttings in 2013.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Opening Act White' was conducted outdoors under a shade cloth during the summer of 2018 at Variety Rights Management, in Oxford Station, Ontario. There were 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. Dormant bare-root divisions were transplanted into 21 cm pots and spaced 30 cm apart on May 2, 2018. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on July 12, 2018. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Opening Act White' with reference varieties 'Minnie Pearl' and 'Opening Act Blush'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Inflorescence height (cm)

Inflorescence width (cm)

Corolla diameter across lobes (cm)

Colour of corolla lobe (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

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Phlox: 'Opening Act White' (right) with reference varieties 'Minnie Pearl' (centre) and 'Opening Act Blush' (left)

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Phlox: 'Opening Act White' (right) with reference varieties 'Minnie Pearl' (centre) and 'Opening Act Blush' (left)