Champagne

Scabiosa

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Pink Mist'

Summary: The plants of 'Champagne' begin flowering mid-season whereas those of 'Pink Mist' begin flowering early in the season. Both the basal and stem leaves of 'Champagne' are larger than those of 'Pink Mist'. The upper side of the leaves of 'Champagne' are mainly light grey green whereas those of 'Pink Mist' are mainly light to medium green. The diameter of the inflorescence of 'Champagne' is smaller than that of 'Pink Mist'. The main colour of the outer side of the ray floret of 'Champagne' is light blue violet whereas that of 'Pink Mist' is blue pink. The main colour of the disc floret of 'Champagne' is light blue violet whereas that of 'Pink Mist' is violet.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated perennial, upright bushy to irregular growth habit, medium degree of branching
STEM: light brown, absent to very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent to very weak glaucosity, sparse pubescence, small diameter

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, sparse pubescence on upper and lower side, absent or very weak glaucosity, light grey green on upper and lower side, no variegation, petiole absent
BASAL LEAF: simple type, spatulate shape, acute apex, attenuate base, lobed margin
STEM LEAF: simple type, broad ovate shape, acute apex, cuneate base, strongly pinnatifid margin

FLOWERING: almost continuous, begins mid-season, long flowering period
PEDUNCLE: absent to very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
FLOWER: head type inflorescence, located at terminal position only, erect attitude, many florets per flower
RAY FLORET: short and narrow, medium length to width ratio, weakly twisted longitudinal axis, spatulate shape, obtuse apex, absent to very weak recurvature of tip, no pubescence, inner side is violet (RHS 75C), outer side is light blue violet (RHS 76C)
DISC FLORET: light blue violet (RHS 76D)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Champagne' is the result of an open pollination of Scabiosa ochroleuca conducted during the summer of 2001 in Hummelo, the Netherlands. In 2002, 'Champagne' was selected from the resulting progeny for its plant growth habit, flower colour and length of flowering period.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Champagne' was conducted outdoors during the summer of 2015 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial consisted of 10 plants of the candidate variety and 12 plants of the reference variety planted in 16 cm pots spaced approximately 35 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety. Colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Champagne' with reference variety 'Pink Mist'

Plant height (cm)

Length of basal leaf blade (cm)

Width of basal leaf blade (cm)

Length of stem leaf blade (cm)

Width of stem leaf blade (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Colour of ray floret (RHS)

Colour of disc floret (RHS)

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Scabiosa: 'Champagne' (right) with reference variety 'Pink Mist' (left)

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Scabiosa: 'Champagne' (left) with reference variety 'Pink Mist' (right)