Rhapsody in Blue

Salvia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Indigo'

Summary: 'Rhapsody in Blue' has a slightly wider leaf than 'Indigo'. The leaf shape of 'Rhapsody in Blue' is ovate while it is lanceolate in 'Indigo'. 'Rhapsody in Blue' has a greater distance between whorls of florets in the inflorescence than 'Indigo'. The inflorescence of 'Rhapsody in Blue' is slightly longer than 'Indigo'. 'Rhapsody in Blue' has a larger floret than 'Indigo'. The flower colour of 'Rhapsody in Blue' is a slightly lighter violet blue than 'Indigo'.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated perennial, upright-bushy to bushy-rounded growth habit, dense degree of branching

STEM: medium green, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, absent or very weak glaucosity, sparse pubescence, medium thickness, square shape

LEAF: opposite arrangement, simple, ovate, acute apex, cuneate to cordate base, crenate margin, sparse to medium pubescence on upper side, sparse pubescence on lower side, absent or very weak glaucosity on upper side, dark green upper side, medium green lower side, no variegation, petiole present, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on the petiole

INFLORESCENCE: almost continuous flowering early to mid season for a moderate amount of time, spike type, long
FLORET: located both terminally and axillary, medium to large, erect attitude, upper lip light violet blue, lower lip violet blue to light violet blue

Origin & Breeding History: 'Rhapsody in Blue' was discovered in Hummelo, The Netherlands in 2000. It was selected from seedlings produced by the seed collected from the self pollination of salvia 'Amethyst' in 1999. Selection criteria included compact plant form and flower colour.

Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted in the summer of 2006, in Oxford Station, Ontario. Trials consisted of 15 plants of each variety, each individually grown in 15cm pots in a polyhouse. Plants were spaced 35cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Rhapsody in Blue' with reference variety 'Indigo'

Leaf width (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Flower colour (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Salvia: 'Rhapsody in Blue' (left) with reference variety 'Indigo' (right)