Superstar

Sedum

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Pure Joy' and 'Popstar'

Summary: The plants of 'Superstar' are upright-bushy to arching while those of 'Pure Joy' are upright-bushy to bushy-rounded. The stem of 'Superstar' is grey purple with a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration while that of 'Pure Joy' is light to medium green with a very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The leaf blade of 'Superstar' is shorter and wider than that of 'Pure Joy'. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'Superstar' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration towards the margin while that of 'Popstar' has a very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration along the margin. The inner side of the petal of 'Superstar' is purple red while the inner side of the petal of 'Pure Joy' is light blue pink and that of 'Popstar' is violet.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated perennial, upright-bushy to arching growth habit, sparse to medium degree of branching
STEM: grey purple, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence, medium diameter, smooth

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, simple type, orbicular shape, obtuse apex and base, very shallow dentate margin incisions, no variegation, no petiole
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, very weak to weak glaucosity, brown green (RHS 146B/C), medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration towards margin
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence

FLOWERING PERIOD: late in the season, medium to long
INFLORESCENCE: cyme type, terminal position only, erect attitude
FLOWER: petal arrangement is very open, very few petals, 5 petals per flower
PETAL: small, ovate shape, acute apex, absent to very weak recurvature of tip, margin is entire
PETAL (UPPER SIDE): purple red (RHS N57C/D)
PETAL (LOWER SIDE): light blue pink (RHS 63D), absent or very sparse pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Superstar' originated from a controlled cross between Sedum cauticola as the female parent, and an unreleased mutation known as 'Sunset Cloud', SRF-SED-282-F, as the male parent. Seeds from individual female plants were collected and sown in the summer of 2012 at Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. Initial selections were made in the summer of 2014 based on plant growth habit and flower colour. 'Superstar' was initially propagated by shoot tip cuttings in the summer of 2015.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Superstar' was conducted outdoors in a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric during the summer of 2019 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 plants of the candidate variety 'Superstar', 13 plants of 'Pure Joy' and 15 plants of 'Popstar'. All plants were grown in 22 cm pots spaced 45 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on September 12, 2019. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Superstar' with reference varieties 'Pure Joy' and 'Popstar'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of petal (RHS)

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Sedum: 'Superstar' (bottom right) with reference varieties 'Pure Joy' (top) and 'Popstar' (bottom left)

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Sedum: 'Superstar' (bottom right) with reference varieties 'Pure Joy' (top) and 'Popstar' (bottom left)