Violet Riot

Salvia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'May Night'

Summary: The plants of 'Violet Riot' are smaller with a shorter petiole and leaf blade than the plants of 'May Night'. The calyx of 'Violet Riot' is purple whereas the calyx of 'May Night' is green. The outer side of the upper lip of the corolla of 'Violet Riot' is blue violet whereas the upper lip of the corolla of 'May Night' is lighter blue violet. The outer side of the lower lip of the corolla of 'Violet Riot' is blue violet whereas the upper lip of the corolla of 'May Night' is violet blue.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, perennial type, upright-bushy growth habit, medium to dense degree of branching
STEM: medium green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent to very weak glaucosity, sparse pubescence, medium diameter, square shaped

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, simple type, petiole present
LEAF BLADE: lanceolate, acute apex, auriculate base, crenate margin, no variegation,
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): very sparse pubescence, absent or very weak glaucosity, dark green
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): sparse 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 pubescence
CALYX: brown purple to dark purple red (RHS 187A/B)
COROLLA: partially fused lobes, short, narrow, 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 blue violet (RHS N88A)

FLOWERING PERIOD: almost continuous flowering for a medium length of time beginning mid-season

Origin & Breeding History: 'Violet Riot' originated from an open pollinated cross between the Savia nemerosa variety 'May Night' as the female parent and an unknown male parent during the summer 2012. The resulting seeds were sown later in the summer of 2012 and 'Violet Riot' was selected for its purple flower colour and compact growth habit. The breeding and selection work were conducted in Zeeland, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Violet Riot' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2015 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. There were 15 plants of the candidate variety and 18 plants of the reference variety. Each plant was grown in a 16 cm diameter pot, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. In most cases observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Violet Riot' with reference variety 'May Night'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Colour of upper lip of corolla (RHS)

Colour of lower lip of corolla (RHS)

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Salvia: 'Violet Riot' (right) with reference variety 'May Night' (left)

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Salvia: 'Violet Riot' (right) with reference variety 'May Night' (left)