Cassini

Photinia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: species Photinia x fraseri

Summary: 'Cassini' is a slightly smaller plant with slightly smaller leaves than the species. The leaf of 'Cassini' is variegated while the species is not.

Description:

'Cassini' is a vegetatively propagated perennial photinia variety with an upright bushy growth habit that has a low to medium degree of branching. The smooth shaped stem has a reddish colour in the first year of growth which changes to a grey brown as it ages. There is no glaucosity or pubescence on the stem. The stem diameter is medium. The simple type leaves are arranged alternately. The leaf blade is obovate to oblanceolate in shape with a crenate to dentate margin, an acute apex and cuneate shaped base. There is no pubescence or glaucosity on the upper or lower side of the leaf. The upper side of the leaf blade is a light green with a small amount of white or cream variegation found along the margin towards the medial area. Leaf petioles are present.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cassini' was discovered in 1991 as a naturally occurring mutation of the species Photinia x fraseri at Alpha Nursery Inc., in Salem, Oregon, USA. The new variety was selected on the basis of its distinctive broadleaf evergreen, variegated foliage.

Tests & Trials: Ten plants of each were grown separately in 13 cm square plastic pots outdoors spaced approximately 0.10 to 0.15 meters apart in Oxford Station, Ontario during the summer of 2003. Unless otherwise indicated measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Cassini' with reference variety species Photinia x fraseri

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)