Balyriclu

Salvia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'May Night' and 'Burgundy Candles'

Summary: The plants of 'Balyriclu' are shorter than those of 'Burgundy Candles'. The leaves of 'Balyriclu' are smaller than those of both reference varieties. The petioles of 'Balyriclu' are shorter than those of both reference varieties. The leaf blades of 'Balyriclu' have medium rugosity while those of 'May Night' have strong rugosity. The inflorescence of 'Balyriclu' has sparse to medium flower density while those of 'Burgundy Candles' have medium to dense flowers. The inflorescences of 'Balyriclu' are shorter and have a smaller distance between flowers than both varieties. The upper surface of the bracts of 'Balyriclu' are violet with green at the apex while those of 'May Night' are green.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, medium density, medium branching density
STEM: weak anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence, medium thickness

LEAF: opposite arrangement, lanceolate, acute apex, cordate base, crenate margin, dark green on upper side, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower sides, medium rugosity

INFLORESCENCE: spike, sparse to medium flower density
CALYX: anthocyanin colouration ranging from medium to large amount, pink anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: whorled arrangement, upright to outwards attitude, bilabiate, blue violet (RHS N88B) outer surface of upper lip, blue violet (RHS N88A-B) with purple towards throat (RHS N81A) on inner surface of lower lip
BRACT: violet (RHS N77B) with green at apex on upper surface

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balyriclu' originated from a cross-pollination between the female parent proprietary breeding selection designated 5999-1 and the male parent from a mixed pollen source made up of five proprietary breeding selections designated 6016, 6017, 6018, 6019 and 6020. The cross was conducted in August 2003 at Elburn, Illinois, United States as part of a controlled breeding program. The initial selection was made in June 2004 based on flower colour, growth habit and flowering time. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Balyriclu' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring-summer of 2012 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm pots on April 30, 2012. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 14, 2012. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balyriclu' with reference varieties 'May Night' and 'Burgundy Candles'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Distance between flowers on inflorescence (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Colour of bract (RHS)

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Salvia: 'Balyriclu' (left) with reference varieties 'May Night' (centre) and 'Burgundy Candles' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Salvia: 'Balyriclu' (left) with reference varieties 'May Night' (centre) and 'Burgundy Candles' (right)