SMSCGF

Scotch Broom

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Moonlight'

Summary: The plants of 'SMNSCGF' are smaller with an overall mounding shape and horizontal growth habit whereas the plants of 'Moonlight' have an overall oblate shape and upright to bushy growth habit. The branching of the plants of 'SMNSCGF' is of medium density whereas the branching of 'Moonlight' is dense. The stem of 'SMNSCGF' is thick and dark green whereas the stem of 'Moonlight' is thin and medium green. The flower of 'SMNSCGF' is larger in diameter than the flower of 'Moonlight'. The flower of 'SMNSCGF' has medium fragrance whereas the flower of 'Moonlight' has strong fragrance. The inner side of the upper lobe of the corolla of 'SMNSCGF' is yellow with yellow orange veins and no secondary colour whereas the inner side of the upper lobe of the corolla of 'Moonlight' is light yellow with a flush of yellow secondary colour. The lateral lobe of the corolla of 'SMNSCGF' is yellow on the inner side and yellow orange on the outer side whereas the lateral lobe of the corolla of 'Moonlight' is yellow on both the inner and outer sides. The lower lobe of the corolla of 'SMNSCGF' is yellow to light yellow on the inner side and yellow on the outer side whereas the lower lobe of the corolla of 'Moonlight' is light yellow on both the inner and outer sides. The plants of 'SMNSCGF' do not produce seed whereas those of 'Moonlight' produce medium sized seed.

Description:

PLANT: flowering shrub type, overall shape is mounding, horizontal growth habit becoming pendulous with age, medium density of branching
SHOOT/STEM: dark green, thick, medium density of pubescence, angular shape in cross-section, ridged texture of bark, absent or very weak glaucosity, absent or very few lenticels, absent or very sparse thorns/spines

PETIOLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
LEAF: simple type leaves on distal parts of shoots and trifoliate type leaves on basal parts of shoots, alternate arrangement along stem
LEAF BLADE: lanceolate to elliptic shape, acute apex, cuneate base, no lobing, dense pubescence on upper and lower sides, no variegation, medium green on upper and lower sides, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of veins on lower side, absent or very weak rugosity
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: entire, absent or very weak waviness

INFLORESCENCE: terminal raceme type with solitary or paired flowers located at the leaf axil
FLOWER BUD: small, green, ovoid shape, small scale
FLOWER: papilionaceous shape, inner side of upper lobe of corolla is yellow (closest to RHS 9A, but brighter) with no secondary colour, inner side of lateral lobe of corolla is yellow (closest to RHS 9A), outer side of lateral lobe of corolla is yellow orange (RHS 14A), inner side of lower lobe of corolla is yellow to light yellow (RHS 9B-C), outer side of lower lobe of corolla is yellow (RHS 9A-B), medium fragrance

SEED: absent

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNSCGF' was bred and developed by the breeder, Timothy D. Wood, an employee of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc., in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. It originated from an open pollinated cross conducted in 2009, between an unnamed plant of Cytisus species, as the female parent, and an unknown male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'SMNSCGF' was selected in the spring of 2011 for its plant growth habit, branching density, and flower size. Asexual reproduction of 'SMNSCGF' by softwood cuttings was first conducted in June 2011, in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNSCGF' was conducted in an outdoor container trial during the spring of 2016 at BioFlora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 8.8 litre containers on July 16, 2016. The containers were arranged outdoors in rows with 1 metre spacing between the plants. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on April 26, 2016, with the exception of flower characteristics which were recorded on May 6, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMSCGF' with reference variety 'Moonlight'

Plant natural height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Colour of inner and outer sides of upper lobe of corolla (RHS)

Colour of lateral lobe of corolla (RHS)

Colour of lower lobe of corolla (RHS)

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Scotch Broom: 'SMNSCGF' (left) with reference variety 'Moonlight' (right)

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Scotch Broom: 'SMNSCGF' (left) with reference variety 'Moonlight' (right)