Gaulsidh4

Salal

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: Gaultheria shallon and 'Gaulsidh12' (Cascade Sunride)

Summary: The plants of 'Gaulsidh4' have sparse branching and are smaller than the plants of both reference varieties, which have dense branching. The growth rate of the plants of 'Gaulsidh4' is slow while that of Gaultheria shallon is moderate to vigorous and that of 'Gaulsidh12' is vigorous. The leaf blade of 'Gaulsidh4' is smaller than that of both reference varieties. The leaf blade of 'Gaulsidh4' is elliptic with a wedged broadly acute base while that of Gaultheria shallon is ovate to almost round with a cordate shaped base. The flowering shoot of 'Gaulsidh4' is shorter than that of 'Gaulsidh12'. The flower of 'Gaulsidh4' is shorter than that of 'Gaulsidh12' and narrower than that of Gaultheria shallon. The fruit of 'Gaulsidh4' is narrower than that of Gaultheria shallon and smaller than that of 'Gaulsidh12'.

Description:

PLANT: shrub, oblate compact shape, upright to bushy growth habit, sparse density of branching, slow growth rate

STEM: light green, very thin, medium density pubescence, round shape in cross-section, smooth bark texture, weak glaucosity, absent or very few lenticels, absent of very few thorns or spines

PETIOLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
LEAF: simple type, alternate arrangement on stem
LEAF BLADE: elliptic shape, acute to cuspidate apex, wedged (broadly acute) base, very shallow serrate margin, no lobing, no variegation, weak rugosity, weak waviness of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): medium to dark green at mid-season, absent or very sparse pubescence
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): light green at mid-season, absent or very sparse pubescence, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on veins

INFLORESCENCE: panicle type
COROLLA: urceolate shape
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): mainly white (RHS NN155D) with a flush of pink (RHS 67D) secondary colour near apex

FRUIT: simple (fleshy) formation, berry type
BERRY SKIN: purple black when ripe, strong glaucosity, medium density pubescence

SEED: very small, white when ripe

Origin & Breeding History: 'Gaulsidh4' was discovered and developed by the breeder, Gurjit Sidhu, in Mission, British Columbia. In the spring of 2014, it was discovered as a naturally occuring branch mutation of Gaultheria shallon growing in a block of 3.8 litres containers in Mission, British Columbia. 'Gaulsidh4' was selected as a single unique seedling based on its very compact growth habit, very small rounded leaves and heavy flowering. 'Gaulsidh4' was first propagated asexually by tissue culture in the spring of 2015 in Mission, British Columbia.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Gaulsidh4' was conducted in a greenhouse container trial during the summer of 2021 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. It included a total of 10 shrubs of the candidate and reference varieties. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into containers in early spring 2021. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 shrubs, or parts of 10 shrubs, of each variety on May 12, 2021 and June 23, 2021. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Gaulsidh4' with reference varieties Gaultheria shallon and 'Gaulsidh12'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Flowering shoot length (cm)

Flower length (cm)

Flower width (cm)

Fruit length (cm)

Fruit width (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Salal: 'Gaulsidh4' (left) with reference varieties Gaultheria shallon (centre) and 'Gaulsidh12' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Salal: 'Gaulsidh4' (left) with reference varieties Gaultheria shallon (centre) and 'Gaulsidh12' (right)