Madeline

Salvia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: Salvia hians

Summary: The plants of 'Madeline' are shorter than the plants of Salvia hians. The leaf blade of 'Madeline' is smaller than the leaf blade of Salvia hians. The shape of the leaf blade of 'Madeline' is lanceolate whereas the leaf blade of Salvia hians is cordate. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'Madeline' is dark green with very sparse pubescence whereas the upper side of the leaf blade of Salvia hians is medium green with sparse to medium dense pubescence. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the peduncle is absent or very weak for 'Madeline' whereas the intensity is medium to strong for Salvia hians. 'Madeline' begins flowering earlier in the season and flowers more than once whereas Salvia hians flowers once mid-season. The floret of 'Madeline' is smaller than the floret of Salvia hians. The calyx of 'Madeline' is green whereas the calyx of Salvia hians is violet and purple. The colour of the outer side of the upper lip of the corolla of 'Madeline' is blue violet whereas the outer side of the upper lip of the corolla of Salvia hians is lighter blue violet. The colour of the inner side of the lower lip of the corolla of 'Madeline' is white (with a very thin blue violet edge) whereas the inner side of the lower lip of the corolla of Salvia hians is white and lighter blue violet.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, perennial type, irregular growth habit, medium to dense degree of branching
STEM: medium green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent to very weak glaucosity, medium to dense pubescence, medium to large diameter, square shape

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, simple type, petiole present
LEAF BLADE: lanceolate, acute apex, cordate base, crenate margin, no variegation,
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): very sparse pubescence, absent or very weak glaucosity, dark green
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): sparse to medium density of pubescence, medium green

INFLORESCENCE: spike type, located in both terminal and axillary positions, erect attitude
PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium density of pubescence
CALYX: green
COROLLA: partially fused lobes, short to medium length, medium width, bilabiate shape, absent or very weak undulation of margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on inner and outer sides
COROLLA (UPPER LIP): inner and outer side is blue violet (RHS N88A)
COROLLA (LOWER LIP): inner and outer side is predominately white (RHS 155D) with blue violet along margin

FLOWERING PERIOD: more than once for a medium length of time beginning early in the season

Origin & Breeding History: 'Madeline' originated from an open pollinated cross between two un-named proprietary Salvia hians seedlings in 2002. From the resulting progeny, 'Madeline' was selected in 2006 for its plant growth habit and flowering.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Madeline' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2015 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. There were 11 plants of the candidate variety and 6 plants of the reference variety. Each plant was grown in a 21 cm diameter pot, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of the candidate variety and 6 plants or 10 parts of plants of the reference variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Madeline' with reference variety Salvia hians

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Inflorescence width (cm)

Colour of upper lip of corolla (RHS)

Colour of lower lip of corolla (RHS)

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Salvia: 'Madeline' (right) with reference variety Salvia hians (left)

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Salvia: 'Madeline' (right) with reference variety Salvia hians'(left)