Gaulsidh12

Salal

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: Gaultheria shallon and 'Gaulsidh4' (Cascade Sunrise)

Summary: The plants of 'Gaulsidh12' are larger than the plants of both reference varieties. The plants of 'Gaulsidh12' have dense branching while those of 'Gaulsidh4' have sparse branching. The growth rate of the plants of 'Gaulsidh12' is vigorous while that of 'Gaulsidh4' is slow. The leaf blade of 'Gaulsidh12' is longer than that of both reference varieties and wider than that of 'Gaulsidh4'. The leaf blade of 'Gaulsidh12' 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 'Gaulsidh12' is longer than that of both reference varieties. The flower of 'Gaulsidh12' is larger than that of 'Gaulsidh4' and narrower than that of Gaultheria shallon. The fruit of 'Gaulsidh12' is larger than that of both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: shrub, oblate broadly spreading shape, bushy to rounded growth habit, dense branching, vigorous growth rate

STEM: light green, 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: weak to medium 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: raceme and panicle type
COROLLA: urceolate shape
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): mainly white (RHS NN155D) with no secondary colour

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: 'Gaulsidh12' was discovered and developed by the breeder, Gurjit Sidhu, in Mission, British Columbia. In the spring of 2017, it was discovered as a chance seedling of Gaultheria shallon growing in a block of 3.8 litre containers in Mission, British Columbia. 'Gaulsidh12' was selected as a single unique seedling based on its narrow leaves with pointed tips and reddish coloured new leaf growth. 'Gaulsidh12' was first propagated asexually by tissue culture in the spring of 2018 in Mission, British Columbia.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Gaulsidh12' 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 'Gaulsidh12' with reference varieties Gaultheria shallon and 'Gaulsidh4'

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

Click on image for larger view

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